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Matt Trautman

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South Africa
Weight
73kg
Height
1.80m
Age
39
Born
1985
Swim
Sailfish
Bike
Felt
Run
Asics
Biography

Matt Trautman

"I definitely took a bit of a different route compared to the norm," says Matt Trautman of his path into triathlon.

Nicknamed 'The Captain', his sporting background did involve water. But if he was ever swimming, then something had gone wrong.

Instead Matt was a top canoe racer and white-water kayaker before racing high-performance yachts for a living for 10 years. He became the first South African to complete the Mini Transat 650, a solo Transatlantic crossing, and notched victories in some of the biggest events around the globe.

But, looking for "a new challenge" and having grown up in the big endurance community of Pietermaritzburg, he started to gravitate towards the world of triathlon.

Trautman "loved it" from his very first race and made rapid progress. The first IRONMAN was South Africa in 2012, where he won his age group, and the following year he was second at Kona in his age category.

Matt turned professional in 2014, and his first big win was at IRONMAN Wales that year. Frequent victories followed, including on home turf at 70.3 South Africa in 2015 and 2016.

Then at the start of 2017, when out training on the bike just before his bid for a third-straight win in his home event, he suffered career-threatening injuries after he was hit by a car. He was left with a compression fracture of his lumbar vertebra, and spinal fusion surgery followed before he had to learn to walk again.

Remarkably, just a year later, and despite sciatic back pain before and during the race, Trautman marked his recovery by notching a belated third triumph at 70.3 South Africa. Fittingly he also went back to Wales that season to notch a second IRONMAN victory in what he calls his favourite race.

"So stoked to come back to IRONMAN Wales and lift this tape again," he posted that evening.

"Four years on from the last time, and with a little more metal in the body. It's been quite a journey and one that wouldn't have been possible without the incredible support of so many."

Asked now what he's most proud of he says: "My family and that comeback year of 2018”.

2019 provided more encouragement for Trautman as he won Challenge Almere, in the process breaking the course record at what was also the official ETU Long Distance Triathlon European Championships.

Matt then looked better than ever at the start of 2020 as he scorched to a dominant victory at 70.3 South Africa, with his wife and young son on hand to cheer him over the line.

Given what he's been through, it shouldn't come as a big surprise that his favourite piece of racing advice is simply: "Out tough 'em".

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Ranking History
#19#197#375#553#7312014201520162017201820192020202120222023*20242014Overall58.30 pts#83Swim78.65 pts#93Bike63.83 pts#88Run64.62 pts#832015Overall71.33 pts#60Swim78.65 pts#131Bike70.41 pts#93Run79.80 pts#342016Overall74.63 pts#64Swim64.76 pts#238Bike72.54 pts#102Run81.11 pts#392017Overall74.05 pts#71Swim70.49 pts#227Bike72.29 pts#128Run74.79 pts#802018Overall73.81 pts#79Swim74.43 pts#189Bike79.76 pts#82Run73.90 pts#902019Overall82.07 pts#56Swim70.37 pts#215Bike81.27 pts#62Run81.26 pts#542020Overall84.66 pts#33Swim68.51 pts#172Bike81.56 pts#51Run85.63 pts#242021Overall79.59 pts#49Swim80.28 pts#108Bike67.30 pts#137Run84.95 pts#422022Overall87.10 pts#40Swim79.70 pts#167Bike87.84 pts#42Run80.34 pts#1022023Overall79.11 pts#49Swim71.44 pts#75Bike80.12 pts#44Run75.48 pts#482024Overall23.27 pts#554Swim12.30 pts#728Bike24.90 pts#542Run22.21 pts#551

* New PTO World Ranking System implemented.

Results

56 Races14
1
6
2
6
3

2024

Points: NaN
Date#RaceTierSwimBikeRunOverallSOFPts
21 Apr
DNF
Ironman South AfricaGold49:01--:----:----:--
0
79.52
-
Swim49:01
Bike--:--
Run--:--

2023

Points: NaN
Date#RaceTierSwimBikeRunOverallSOFPts
19 Nov
2
Ironman 70.3 Mossel BaySilver29:472:05:371:15:193:54:22
69.8
61.2
69.80
Swim29:47
Bike2:05:37
Run1:15:19
09 Sep
DNF
Challenge AlmereSilver55:094:06:37--:----:--
0
78.92
-
Swim55:09
Bike4:06:37
Run--:--
27 Aug
21
Ironman 70.3 World ChampionshipPlatinum24:412:03:211:14:053:44:45
71.66
90.59
71.66
Swim24:41
Bike2:03:21
Run1:14:05
06 Aug
4
Challenge LondonSilver24:051:51:551:14:243:35:15
69.76
76.1
69.76
Swim24:05
Bike1:51:55
Run1:14:24
01 Jul
1
Challenge VansbroSilver22:301:54:331:15:293:34:59
79.7
70.86
79.70
Swim22:30
Bike1:54:33
Run1:15:29
21 May
4
Ironman 70.3 Pays d'AixSilver23:172:12:131:13:013:54:20
70.33
76.41
70.33
Swim23:17
Bike2:12:13
Run1:13:01
07 May
3
WT Long Distance ChampionshipsPlatinum38:232:49:381:46:345:19:52
85.96
78.88
85.96
Swim38:23
Bike2:49:38
Run1:46:34
05 Mar
10
Ironman South AfricaGold9:494:38:212:57:307:49:39
60.33
80.64
60.33
Swim9:49
Bike4:38:21
Run2:57:30

2022

Points: NaN
Date#RaceTierSwimBikeRunOverallSOFPts
06 Nov
2
Ironman 70.3 Mossel BayBronze23:452:07:421:16:163:51:21
66.41
60.76
66.41
Swim23:45
Bike2:07:42
Run1:16:16
08 Oct
22
Ironman HawaiiDiamond51:434:14:153:04:138:15:09
70.65
91.45
70.65
Swim51:43
Bike4:14:15
Run3:04:13
18 Sep
31
PTO US OpenDiamond29:111:53:331:15:363:40:23
56.72
87.17
56.72
Swim29:11
Bike1:53:33
Run1:15:36
24 Jul
DNF
Ironman Lake PlacidSilver--:----:----:----:--
66.76
-
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--
07 May
12
Ironman St. George World ChampionshipsDiamond51:534:23:182:54:228:12:53
76.29
80.09
76.29
Swim51:53
Bike4:23:18
Run2:54:22
03 Apr
3
Ironman South AfricaGold8:224:22:272:42:397:17:36
78.64
70.85
78.64
Swim8:22
Bike4:22:27
Run2:42:39

2021

Points: NaN
Date#RaceSwimBikeRunOverallAITPts
19 Sep
7
Ironman Austria48:544:27:372:43:488:06:37
70.4308
07:45:57
70.43
Swim48:54
Bike4:27:37
Run2:43:48
05 Sep
1
Ironman 70.3 South Africa9:412:16:041:17:223:47:24
54.8182
03:32:58
54.82
Swim9:41
Bike2:16:04
Run1:17:22
03 Jul
3
Ironman Lanzarote51:264:59:382:46:468:42:59
80.5169
08:28:08
80.52
Swim51:26
Bike4:59:38
Run2:46:46
20 Jun
2
Challenge Gdansk24:052:04:571:14:443:48:18
72.2708
03:39:11
72.27
Swim24:05
Bike2:04:57
Run1:14:44
02 May
1
Sun City Ultra25:052:03:401:13:513:44:17
85.9889
03:39:40
85.99
Swim25:05
Bike2:03:40
Run1:13:51

2020

Points: NaN
Date#RaceSwimBikeRunOverallAITPts
15 Nov
2
People's Triathlon25:212:08:351:11:073:46:25
76.6875
03:38:46
76.69
Swim25:21
Bike2:08:35
Run1:11:07
07 Feb
5
Ironman 70.3 Dubai25:001:58:511:11:253:39:26
65.4897
03:28:38
65.49
Swim25:00
Bike1:58:51
Run1:11:25
26 Jan
1
Ironman 70.3 South Africa25:432:17:151:15:424:02:58
87.2297
03:58:24
87.23
Swim25:43
Bike2:17:15
Run1:15:42

2019

Points: NaN
Date#RaceSwimBikeRunOverallAITPts
10 Nov
3
Challenge Capetown--:----:----:--3:49:44
75.8432
03:41:42
75.84
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--
12 Oct
28
Ironman Hawaii52:144:25:063:11:258:33:05
58.4771
08:03:00
58.48
Swim52:14
Bike4:25:06
Run3:11:25
14 Sep
1
Challenge Almere49:494:11:482:44:447:50:15
90.048
07:43:20
90.05
Swim49:49
Bike4:11:48
Run2:44:44
01 Sep
6
Ironman 70.3 Zell am See25:152:12:461:16:333:59:36
64.8506
03:47:36
64.85
Swim25:15
Bike2:12:46
Run1:16:33
28 Jul
DNF
Ironman Hamburg--:----:----:----:--
07:57:58
-
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--
07 Apr
8
Ironman South Africa27:174:33:562:49:007:54:22
74.7414
07:37:03
74.74
Swim27:17
Bike4:33:56
Run2:49:00
27 Jan
2
Ironman 70.3 South Africa16:042:16:471:18:093:54:52
72.77
03:45:39
72.77
Swim16:04
Bike2:16:47
Run1:18:09

2018

Points: NaN
Date#RaceSwimBikeRunOverallAITPts
08 Dec
5
Ironman 70.3 Bahrain22:481:59:541:12:273:39:21
62.1541
03:27:34
62.15
Swim22:48
Bike1:59:54
Run1:12:27
21 Oct
2
Ironman 70.3 Shanghai--:----:----:--3:46:26
69.6806
03:36:35
69.68
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--
09 Sep
1
Ironman Wales51:104:54:472:59:258:53:21
80.3108
08:38:03
80.31
Swim51:10
Bike4:54:47
Run2:59:25
28 Jul
DNF
Challenge Prague--:----:----:----:--
03:44:00
-
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--
30 Jun
1
Ironman 70.3 Finland24:592:07:261:18:183:54:35
68.2422
03:43:55
68.24
Swim24:59
Bike2:07:26
Run1:18:18
10 Jun
DNF
Ironman 70.3 Switzerland--:----:----:----:--
03:42:24
-
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--
15 Apr
13
Ironman South Africa49:534:42:563:09:258:47:14
37.1087
08:01:47
37.11
Swim49:53
Bike4:42:56
Run3:09:25
28 Jan
1
Ironman 70.3 South Africa24:372:20:421:19:334:09:19
56.7673
03:54:08
56.77
Swim24:37
Bike2:20:42
Run1:19:33

2017

Points: NaN
Date#RaceSwimBikeRunOverallAITPts
25 Nov
5
Ironman 70.3 Bahrain23:272:06:341:15:593:49:19
71.4517
03:39:54
71.45
Swim23:27
Bike2:06:34
Run1:15:59

2016

Points: NaN
Date#RaceSwimBikeRunOverallAITPts
10 Dec
DNF
Ironman 70.3 Bahrain--:----:----:----:--
03:39:03
-
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--
19 Jun
1
Ironman 70.3 Durban26:212:06:031:16:273:53:36
75.0308
03:45:10
75.03
Swim26:21
Bike2:06:03
Run1:16:27
12 Jun
1
Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire24:312:13:301:14:283:56:28
60.6907
03:43:18
60.69
Swim24:31
Bike2:13:30
Run1:14:28
22 May
13
Ironman 70.3 Barcelona25:512:31:271:15:444:17:45
34.5783
03:54:43
34.58
Swim25:51
Bike2:31:27
Run1:15:44
10 Apr
4
Ironman South Africa54:184:31:282:49:398:19:25
75.6716
08:01:50
75.67
Swim54:18
Bike4:31:28
Run2:49:39
24 Jan
1
Ironman 70.3 South Africa26:032:13:391:17:344:01:53
58.8363
03:47:49
58.84
Swim26:03
Bike2:13:39
Run1:17:34

2015

Points: NaN
Date#RaceSwimBikeRunOverallAITPts
10 Oct
DNF
Ironman Hawaii--:----:----:----:--
08:15:44
-
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--
20 Sep
1
Ironman 70.3 Korea22:522:12:471:19:353:57:52
59.2565
03:44:10
59.26
Swim22:52
Bike2:12:47
Run1:19:35
30 Aug
15
Ironman 70.3 World Championship26:022:18:061:16:474:04:37
56.346
03:49:35
56.35
Swim26:02
Bike2:18:06
Run1:16:47
22 Aug
3
Ironman 70.3 Budapest28:132:12:031:09:503:53:44
42.2491
03:35:06
42.25
Swim28:13
Bike2:12:03
Run1:09:50
31 May
6
Ironman Brasil52:214:25:192:44:318:06:29
70.223
07:45:41
70.22
Swim52:21
Bike4:25:19
Run2:44:31
29 Mar
4
Ironman South Africa51:574:48:012:53:108:37:21
73.1912
08:17:21
73.19
Swim51:57
Bike4:48:01
Run2:53:10
25 Jan
1
Ironman 70.3 South Africa24:382:19:011:16:494:04:35
69.7488
03:53:58
69.75
Swim24:38
Bike2:19:01
Run1:16:49

2014

Points: NaN
Date#RaceSwimBikeRunOverallAITPts
14 Sep
1
Ironman Wales51:545:03:293:04:449:07:28
70.587
08:44:20
70.59
Swim51:54
Bike5:03:29
Run3:04:44
31 Aug
3
Ironman 70.3 Zell am See24:592:18:201:15:374:04:03
47.9213
03:46:22
47.92
Swim24:59
Bike2:18:20
Run1:15:37
06 Apr
5
Ironman South Africa49:434:54:173:00:048:48:25
56.3815
08:15:58
56.38
Swim49:43
Bike4:54:17
Run3:00:04
26 Jan
11
Ironman 70.3 South Africa24:362:20:571:25:094:14:37
24.8307
03:48:49
24.83
Swim24:36
Bike2:20:57
Run1:25:09

Ranking per Season

Overall

Year
Points
Pos
2024
23
554
2023
79
49
2022
87
40
2021
79
49
2020
84
33
2019
82
56
2018
73
79
2017
74
71
2016
74
64
2015
71
60
2014
58
83

Swim

Year
Points
Pos
2024
12
728
2023
71
75
2022
79
167
2021
80
108
2020
68
172
2019
70
215
2018
74
189
2017
70
227
2016
64
238
2015
78
131
2014
78
93

Bike

Year
Points
Pos
2024
24
542
2023
80
44
2022
87
42
2021
67
137
2020
81
51
2019
81
62
2018
79
82
2017
72
128
2016
72
102
2015
70
93
2014
63
88

Run

Year
Points
Pos
2024
22
551
2023
75
48
2022
80
102
2021
84
42
2020
85
24
2019
81
54
2018
73
90
2017
74
80
2016
81
39
2015
79
34
2014
64
83