Two serving members of the British Army will compete to be crowned Women’s Ironman™ world champion later this month.
Captain Kat Matthews, Royal Army Medical Corps, and Major Rosie Wild, Royal Horse Artillery, will be among the top 50 female triathletes in the world on the Cote d’Azur on 22 September.
The 140.6-mile slog links an ocean swim with a technical hinterland bike course and a vibrant coastal run as competitors battle for the biggest prize.
For Rosie the race in Nice will form the pinnacle of her debut campaign as a professional.
The 32-year-old, who will compete in Army colours, said:
“I had a good season over the half-ironman distance (70.3 miles) last year; I really enjoyed myself but was always balancing this with being an adjutant at a high-readiness unit.
“Someone at the Army Triathlon Association (ATA) asked why I had not become a full-time athlete like Kat. I always thought I was not good enough, but I won some races and qualified for a pro licence while working full-time, which is when I realised that route would make sense.
“I promoted to major last December and am due at Staff College in January, so it was the perfect time. I had the opportunity to leave my job early and then have a year to see what happens.”
The Army has given me the opportunity, and it is one I may never get again
Rosie is no stranger to pushing her limits physically. In 2020 she became the first female officer to pass P Company, the Army's demanding course to prove that Parachute Regiment recruits have the physical and mental robustness needed to serve in 16 Air Assault Brigade.
She is keen to use her successes to highlight the opportunities available to fellow personnel.
“I still do a lot with the ATA. I was in the same position as a lot of those athletes a few years ago.
“Hopefully people can look at me and think the same thing can happen for them – and it doesn’t just have to be in triathlon, it can be anything they choose.”
Kat was runner-up on her 2021 debut in the race. But in recent years has been unable to show her best on the ultimate stage, due to circumstances beyond her control.
In 2022 she was hit by a car while on a training ride in Texas, sustaining a fractured skull and two vertebrae in her neck.
The 33-year-old said:
“Since the accident I have had a lot more gratitude and I keep coming back to the idea that I am physically able to train.
“I have the opportunity to try and be better. There is an element of that in all soldiers. We are encouraged by the chain of command to take opportunities and there is definitely some of that in me.”
“Quitting has never crossed my mind. My husband Mark retired from the Royal Logistic Corps a year ago and he was there to look after me while I was going through some acute stuff. But I never thought about not doing this.”
For the full story, read the September issue of Soldier magazine.