Michelle Vesterby

Michelle Vesterby is Denmark’s most successful triathletes, having finished in the top 10 of the IRONMAN World Championship on three different occasions.

The Danish star, known for her ‘Keep Smiling’ motto and positive attitude, began her professional career in 2012 and has four victories on the IRONMAN circuit since, with wins in Lanzarote (2012), Cozumel (2016) along with a pair of successes in her home race Copenhagen (2015 and 2017).

2015 was an exceptional year for Vesterby, as after that victory in Copenhagen she produced a stunning performance to finish fourth in the World Championship in Hawaii - the highest-placed Danish female in modern times.

Michelle enjoys putting the pedal to the metal in her favourite discipline - the bike - and it is no surprise to anyone, given her excellent results in Hawaii, that her favourite race is based in the Aloha state.

While many discover their love of the sport through excelling in one of the disciplines, Michelle simply wanted to impress her future husband Claus – and she certainly did that and more. The pair share a passion for the sport and are happily married with a son called Markus, who Michelle says she can’t live without. Along with candy that is.

A graduate of Syddansk University Odense, with a degree in health and sports, Michelle showcases her intellectual prowess alongside her exceptional athletic talent.

She is driven to be “the best she can be” and with the backing of her hero, her mother, she loves to train with “anyone and everyone.” Her keys to success are simple: “Believe in yourself” and always “follow your gut feelings,” a method she has been extremely successful with in her career, and life, to date.

One thing to be wary of though, Michelle doesn’t like to miss out on any anything, even if that means leaving the toilet door open!