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Patrik Nilsson

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Sweden
Weight
-
Height
1.82m
Age
33
Born
1991
 
 
 
Biography

Patrik Nilsson

Hearing all about the IRONMAN World Championship one day from a cousin who lived in Hawaii had a pivotal effect on Patrik Nilsson's life and career.

He was in his late teens at that point, having done plenty of swimming as a child before transitioning to running. But he was starting to tire of the one-dimensional nature of the training.

Triathlon, and the full distance in particular, was to provide the variety and challenge he craved.

"Only doing running, you do get tired of it after a while. But with triathlon there are so many different aspects to work on, which makes it always interesting,” explains Patrik.

"I want to see how fast I can be and how many races I can perform at my best."

The Swede, who is based in Denmark, has already shown that he belongs at the highest level by winning five IRONMAN races so far and going under eight hours on four occasions.

The first of those wins came in Malaysia in 2014, and he doubled the tally by setting a new national record in Sweden the following year.

He was twice on the top spot of the podium in 2016, at Copenhagen and Barcelona, both times going sub-eight hours.

Though he didn't cross the line in front the following two years, he took a tremendous amount of pride in his podium places at Frankfurt where he raced against the very best in the sport.

His runner-up spot behind Jan Frodeno in that race in 2018 guaranteed his Kona place and he made an eye-catching debut in Hawaii with a top-10 finish as Patrick Lange, who had been only third in Frankfurt, rewrote the record books.

Nilsson continued his progress in 2019, landing a victory at Texas to book his Kona ticket again and the year ended memorably as he married Teresa, the mother of their son Matteo.

Going head-to-head with the best

The journey to full-distance triathlon usually starts at much shorter distances and builds up gradually to the ultimate test. Not for Patrik Nilsson.

His background had been in swimming and especially running in his early years, but when he took up triathlon he quickly realised he would be much more of a force the further he went.

He tried Olympic-distance races at 18 and 19, but even then found he struggled to stay competitive in the swim. This was then exacerbated by not being in the front group on the bike in what were draft-legal events.

He soon moved up to the middle distance, but still thought there was much more to come at the full. Having made the switch, it was linking up with coach Frank Jakobsen in 2014 that propelled him to a new level.

Nilsson registered his first victory with that triumph in Malaysia as he overcame stifling heat to finish nearly 17 minutes ahead of his rivals. He underlined his talent when taking second before the year was out at Western Australia.

The following year Patrik took the decision to decline a first Kona slot, partly to focus on trying to win his home race and also mindful that he wanted to head to Hawaii when he felt ready to compete.

That proved a wise decision by the 23-year-old, who broke the national record at IRONMAN Sweden by finishing in 8:08:05, again 17 minutes ahead of the rest.

If Nilsson wasn't on the radar before, then he certainly was in 2016 when he ran away with Copenhagen in 7:49:18. That time smashed his personal best by nearly 20 minutes and put him in the top 10 of all-time efforts.

Patrik didn't wait long to go under eight hours again, just six weeks in fact, thanks to a 7:55:28 in Barcelona which gave him title number four. That was despite some mechanical issues on the bike which were more than made up for by a 2:41:25 marathon.

Looking back now, it was his performances at the European Championship Frankfurt in 2017 and 2018 which made him feel like he belonged at the highest level.

He was third there in 2017 behind Sebastien Kienle and Andi Böcherer, and then second 12 months later, this time splitting Jan Frodeno and Patrick Lange.

"I want to race the best, in the biggest races," he explained.

So it was no wonder that he now felt the time was right to finally take that flight to Hawaii.

What a year it was for a first appearance as Lange became the first man to smash the eight-hour barrier, while Patrik promised great things were to come from him with an eighth-place finish.

He was out of the water in seventh but had dropped slightly to 13th coming out of T2. However, it was close and entering the infamous Energy Lab section on the run course he had moved into 10th, and a strong final 10km saw him jump up a couple more positions. It was quite a debut and he couldn't wait to come back.

Patrik aimed to secure his return ticket to Kona at South Africa the following April. But by his own admission he didn't have the legs that day, perhaps because of a hard block of training in Lanzarote immediately prior.

Eager to get back on track as soon as possible, he managed to book a flight from Frankfurt (one of the stops on his way back home) direct to Texas.

And two-and-a-half weeks after touching down in the United States, win number five was in the bag at Texas as well as that coveted Kona slot.

Texas had all boiled down to the run, with Patrik needing to make up 10 minutes on Andrew Starykowicz. But he looked in control throughout and made the catch in the second half thanks to a 2:42:41 marathon.

Another top-10 finish at Kona had looked on the cards, but things didn't go to plan right from the start as he just missed the break on the swim and then cramped up on the bike. He battled on but stomach issues and the heat meant a DNF in the second half of the marathon.

Putting family first

Asked what he is most proud of, Patrik says: "My family and being able to do the sport I love as my profession.

"I love the sport and the challenge it provides, both physically and mentally. I like everything about it - the community, the athletes and the energy a race has.

"Consistent training is key, finding a level that works month after month, not only for a few days.

"I always want to perform, to show my son Matteo that everything is possible with hard work."

With the travelling demands the sport brings, holidays aren't particularly high on Patrik's list of priorities.

"I don't really do them - with all the racing and training camps, I think the best location to relax and enjoy the family is at home."

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Ranking History
#1#186#371#55620132014201520162017201820192020202120222023*2013Overall15.46 pts#193Swim23.93 pts#301Bike27.54 pts#230Run20.03 pts#2572014Overall62.15 pts#65Swim85.01 pts#46Bike62.69 pts#99Run68.30 pts#642015Overall77.26 pts#41Swim85.01 pts#71Bike74.55 pts#72Run79.14 pts#392016Overall97.01 pts#6Swim85.41 pts#78Bike84.63 pts#40Run103.78 pts#12017Overall98.93 pts#6Swim91.54 pts#23Bike85.06 pts#51Run103.78 pts#22018Overall93.62 pts#16Swim91.54 pts#29Bike82.77 pts#62Run89.61 pts#232019Overall91.85 pts#23Swim94.21 pts#31Bike85.74 pts#48Run89.22 pts#252020Overall85.84 pts#30Swim94.07 pts#27Bike78.59 pts#60Run87.80 pts#212021Overall49.32 pts#171Swim79.82 pts#111Bike67.57 pts#134Run70.48 pts#1232022Overall0.00 pts#710Swim48.43 pts#350Bike38.05 pts#409Run0.00 pts#6952023Overall10.13 pts#736Swim23.38 pts#473Bike21.82 pts#500Run9.77 pts#709

* New PTO World Ranking System implemented.

Results

47 Races7
1
5
2
2
3

2024

Points: NaN
Date#RaceTierSwimBikeRunOverallSOFPts
11 May
DNF
Ironman 70.3 MallorcaGold22:53--:----:----:--
0
90.11
-
Swim22:53
Bike--:--
Run--:--

2023

Points: NaN
Date#RaceTierSwimBikeRunOverallSOFPts
17 Sep
DNF
Ironman 70.3 Knokke-HeistSilver20:28--:----:----:--
0
74.21
-
Swim20:28
Bike--:--
Run--:--
09 Jul
DNF
Ironman SwitzerlandSilver55:38--:----:----:--
0
70.99
-
Swim55:38
Bike--:--
Run--:--
07 May
DNF
WT Long Distance ChampionshipsPlatinum38:213:29:39--:----:--
0
78.88
-
Swim38:21
Bike3:29:39
Run--:--

2022

Points: NaN
Date#RaceTierSwimBikeRunOverallSOFPts
04 Dec
DNF
Ironman Western AustraliaSilver--:----:----:----:--
69.33
-
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--
20 Aug
DNF
Ironman SwedenSilver--:----:----:----:--
71.87
-
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--
10 Jul
17
Ironman Vitoria-GasteizSilver47:514:13:514:52:209:59:00
28.93
68.35
28.93
Swim47:51
Bike4:13:51
Run4:52:20
26 Jun
DNF
Ironman FrankfurtGold--:----:----:----:--
73.81
-
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--
07 May
DNF
Ironman St. George World ChampionshipsDiamond--:----:----:----:--
80.09
-
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--

2021

Points: NaN
Date#RaceSwimBikeRunOverallAITPts
21 Nov
DNF
Ironman Cozumel--:----:----:----:--
07:27:25
-
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--
16 Oct
22
Challenge Peguera Mallorca24:492:13:591:17:173:59:45
45.7224
03:41:42
45.72
Swim24:49
Bike2:13:59
Run1:17:17
19 Sep
DNF
Ironman Austria--:----:----:----:--
07:45:57
-
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--
15 Aug
1
Ironman Frankfurt49:344:25:082:39:397:59:20
102.241
08:00:57
102.24
Swim49:34
Bike4:25:08
Run2:39:39
03 Jul
DNF
Ironman Lanzarote--:----:----:----:--
08:28:08
-
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--
23 May
DNF
Ironman Tulsa--:----:----:----:--
07:51:38
-
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--
02 May
15
Challenge Cancun26:002:13:491:32:484:20:30
0
03:43:40
-
Swim26:00
Bike2:13:49
Run1:32:48

2020

Points: NaN
Date#RaceSwimBikeRunOverallAITPts
06 Sep
22
Ironman 70.3 Gdynia23:182:12:571:36:514:18:33
0
03:40:51
-
Swim23:18
Bike2:12:57
Run1:36:51

2019

Points: NaN
Date#RaceSwimBikeRunOverallAITPts
24 Nov
DNF
Ironman Cozumel--:----:----:----:--
07:40:45
-
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--
12 Oct
DNF
Ironman Hawaii--:----:----:----:--
08:03:00
-
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--
07 Jul
2
Ironman 70.3 Sweden24:152:09:521:14:273:53:29
65.7786
03:42:05
65.78
Swim24:15
Bike2:09:52
Run1:14:27
23 Jun
4
Ironman 70.3 Elsinore21:562:04:491:11:103:42:56
78.9192
03:36:06
78.92
Swim21:56
Bike2:04:49
Run1:11:10
27 Apr
1
Ironman Texas49:184:13:142:42:207:50:55
104.01
07:53:46
104.01
Swim49:18
Bike4:13:14
Run2:42:20
07 Apr
DNF
Ironman South Africa--:----:----:----:--
07:37:03
-
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--
01 Feb
2
Ironman 70.3 Dubai--:----:----:--3:42:50
74.5839
03:34:39
74.58
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--

2018

Points: NaN
Date#RaceSwimBikeRunOverallAITPts
13 Oct
DNF
Ironman Hawaii--:----:----:----:--
08:01:08
-
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--
08 Jul
2
Ironman Frankfurt48:464:28:452:46:028:08:15
92.6141
08:02:54
92.61
Swim48:46
Bike4:28:45
Run2:46:02
17 Jun
DNF
Ironman 70.3 Elsinore--:----:----:----:--
03:36:00
-
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--
20 May
DNF
Ironman 70.3 Barcelona--:----:----:----:--
03:55:33
-
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--
21 Apr
DNF
Challenge Gran Canaria--:----:----:----:--
03:51:17
-
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--

2017

Points: NaN
Date#RaceSwimBikeRunOverallAITPts
14 Oct
8
Ironman Hawaii48:344:29:022:55:518:18:21
91.1439
08:11:49
91.14
Swim48:34
Bike4:29:02
Run2:55:51
09 Jul
3
Ironman Frankfurt47:154:17:412:40:587:50:16
97.105
07:48:14
97.11
Swim47:15
Bike4:17:41
Run2:40:58
18 Jun
DNF
Ironman 70.3 Elsinore--:----:----:----:--
03:35:38
-
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--
21 May
8
Ironman 70.3 Barcelona24:072:32:101:15:364:15:47
53.1348
03:58:59
53.13
Swim24:07
Bike2:32:10
Run1:15:36

2016

Points: NaN
Date#RaceSwimBikeRunOverallAITPts
10 Dec
DNF
Ironman 70.3 Bahrain--:----:----:----:--
03:39:03
-
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--
02 Oct
1
Ironman Barcelona49:324:20:152:41:257:55:28
90.7598
07:48:58
90.76
Swim49:32
Bike4:20:15
Run2:41:25
21 Aug
1
Ironman Copenhagen47:534:14:152:43:147:49:18
108.554
07:55:24
108.55
Swim47:53
Bike4:14:15
Run2:43:14
22 May
1
Ironman 70.3 Barcelona23:362:24:001:13:084:04:55
71.0289
03:54:43
71.03
Swim23:36
Bike2:24:00
Run1:13:08
23 Apr
6
Challenge Fuerteventura--:----:----:--4:08:07
42.1856
03:48:19
42.19
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--

2015

Points: NaN
Date#RaceSwimBikeRunOverallAITPts
29 Nov
DNF
Ironman Cozumel--:----:----:----:--
08:02:47
-
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--
15 Aug
1
Ironman Sweden52:114:27:122:45:488:08:05
91.7027
08:02:05
91.70
Swim52:11
Bike4:27:12
Run2:45:48
27 Jun
5
ITU Long Distance18:012:46:401:49:174:56:40
0
-
-
Swim18:01
Bike2:46:40
Run1:49:17
09 May
2
Ironman 70.3 Mallorca22:422:18:421:12:563:59:12
60.6454
03:45:52
60.65
Swim22:42
Bike2:18:42
Run1:12:56
25 Apr
3
Challenge Fuerteventura--:----:----:--4:04:08
53.3479
03:48:10
53.35
Swim--:--
Bike--:--
Run--:--

2014

Points: NaN
Date#RaceSwimBikeRunOverallAITPts
07 Dec
2
Ironman Western Australia47:044:27:502:53:378:12:11
69.2268
07:50:28
69.23
Swim47:04
Bike4:27:50
Run2:53:37
27 Sep
1
Ironman Malaysia49:494:40:313:05:378:41:53
70.8454
08:20:01
70.85
Swim49:49
Bike4:40:31
Run3:05:37
16 Aug
12
Ironman Sweden49:264:38:104:04:069:35:31
0
07:51:24
-
Swim49:26
Bike4:38:10
Run4:04:06

2013

Points: NaN
Date#RaceSwimBikeRunOverallAITPts
06 Oct
8
Challenge Barcelona Full55:444:26:412:54:028:18:19
46.3737
07:41:13
46.37
Swim55:44
Bike4:26:41
Run2:54:02

Ranking per Season

Overall

Year
Points
Pos
2023
10
736
2022
0
710
2021
49
171
2020
85
30
2019
91
23
2018
93
16
2017
98
6
2016
97
6
2015
77
41
2014
62
65
2013
15
193

Swim

Year
Points
Pos
2023
23
473
2022
48
350
2021
79
111
2020
94
27
2019
94
31
2018
91
29
2017
91
23
2016
85
78
2015
85
71
2014
85
46
2013
23
301

Bike

Year
Points
Pos
2023
21
500
2022
38
409
2021
67
134
2020
78
60
2019
85
48
2018
82
62
2017
85
51
2016
84
40
2015
74
72
2014
62
99
2013
27
230

Run

Year
Points
Pos
2023
9
709
2022
0
695
2021
70
123
2020
87
21
2019
89
25
2018
89
23
2017
103
2
2016
103
1
2015
79
39
2014
68
64
2013
20
257