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Radka Kahlefeldt

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36
World Rank
4
National
23
Swim
39
Bike
53
Run
Australia
Weight
55kg
Height
1.70m
Age
39
DOB
07 Nov 1984
 
Bike
Liv
 
Biography More

Radka Kahlefeldt

Trying to get the most out of limited training time is a challenge triathletes all over the world face every day.

And there can't be many more inspiring role models than Radka Kahlefeldt, who has moved to another level since the arrival of daughter Ruby in January 2018.

Just 11 weeks after giving birth to her first child, she was back to middle-distance winning ways and has since enjoyed the most successful phase yet of a win-laden career.

Her route into the sport underlined her uncanny ability to squeeze as much as possible into the time available.

Originally she wanted to be a professional tennis player (Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi were her heroes growing up), before realising that her strengths lay elsewhere.

She was then able to excel at both cross-country skiing (representing the Czech Republic) and triathlon.

But eventually came the point, aged 18, where she had to pick one or the other, and she’s never looked back.

"I now chase the summer all around the world as opposed to chasing snow, so I think it was a good choice," she says.

Early on Radka focused on both duathlon (she was European Champion in 2008) as well as shorter distance triathlons on the ITU circuit, while also fitting in a Masters degree in sports science and physical education.

The highlight though was getting to the Olympics in London in 2012 and she recounts: "It was an amazing experience and such a special Games, it's something I'll never forget”.

The perfect match

Radka, or Rads as she's also known, was 15 when she joined her first triathlon club and started in sprint distances, before gradually working her way up to Olympic distance.

As her swimming improved she made huge strides and, just as she had in cross-country skiing she was soon representing her country.

After the 2012 Olympics though, her sights were set on non-drafting racing and longer distances.

Her middle-distance debut came at the end of 2012 and it was the following year, at a race in Australia, where she first met her now-husband Brad.

The Australian enjoyed a 20-year career in triathlon, including two Olympics (Beijing and London), a Commonwealth Games gold medal and three ITU World Championship podium places.

They married in 2016 and Brad (who has now retired and turned his attention to marathon running and coaching) is ideally placed to map out Radka's training regime.

There was plenty of success before Ruby came along, including IRONMAN 70.3 wins at Putrajaya, Hefei and Subic Bay. But it is the run of results since the start of 2018 which has catapulted Radka into the top bracket of the sport.

It was just 11 weeks after giving birth (and after only two weeks of training) that she returned at 70.3 Davao in the Philippines. What a comeback it was.

Exactly a year and a week after her previous IRONMAN race (when she was runner-up at 70.3 Taiwan), she led from start to finish to dominate the field.

She was quickest in both the swim and on the bike (and third-best in the half marathon), crossing the line with an advantage of more than 11 minutes on the rest of the field.

She repeated the trick at 70.3 Vietnam and 70.3 Cebu and then went on to notch her best result yet at the 70.3 World Championship with a fifth place.

The end-of-year sequence then rounded out an unforgettable 12 months in style.

First up was the Challenge Asia Pacific Championship where Radka again left her rivals trailing right from the off. By the finish, she’d extended her lead to 10 minutes and more from fellow 'supermums' Mirinda Carfrae and Beth McKenzie.

The following weekend Rads was in complete control again at IRONMAN 70.3 Western Sydney. Then after making the short hop to New Zealand, she collected another first place at 70.3 Taupo. That came despite not feeling 100 per cent on the bike.

No wonder she called 2018 "the best year of my life" as she ended it as the dominant force at half distance.

That momentum continued into 2019, with early-season successes at 70.3 Geelong and Davao (again).

The level of consistency was incredible as she managed to cover both IRONMAN and Challenge events, with her 13 races producing seven wins and 11 podiums.

With multiple Challenge wins and a second place at The Championship Challenge Samorin, she ran away with the Challenge Family World Bonus and a top prize of $30,000.

Having wrapped things up in Europe it was back to the southern hemisphere, with 2020 starting in now-familiar style with another success at Challenge Wanaka, for another Asia Pacific Championship title.

Staying in the land of the long white cloud, she also made the significant move into full-distance racing with a debut at IRONMAN New Zealand. Illness meant she only got as far as the bike ride, but it is surely only a matter of time before she's challenging for podiums in that sphere.

An inspirational story

Combining full and half-distance races will add another layer to the training puzzle, but if anyone can make it work it is Radka and Brad Kahlefeldt.

It has been quite an achievement by Radka to reach new heights, while always putting Ruby first. She gives lots of the credit to Brad, with the pair of them aiming to be as time-efficient as possible. Their planning includes around 20 hours a week of carefully-tailored training.

"It wouldn't be possible without Brad, he understands everything. You set your priorities: family first then triathlon."

Asked for her favourite piece of training advice, it had to come from her husband, who told her: "You can't feel great in training every day. Just do it and don't overthink it”.

By necessity, much of the training is done early, indoors and mostly alone. The majority of it is high-quality and intense, all about maximising the available time.

It is clearly a formula which pays dividends, and Radka is keen to stress: "I hope I can inspire all the mums that you can still do whatever you want”.

Current PTO World Ranking Points
36
PTO Asian Open 2023
82.77
Ironman Cairns 2023
Best FD +5%
78.95
Ironman Hawaii 2023
74.55
Sum / 3
78.76
Ranking History
#4#58#112#166#22020132014201520162017201820192020202120222023*20242013Overall19.60 pts#126Swim45.74 pts#72Bike24.37 pts#217Run29.83 pts#1232014Overall77.71 pts#34Swim90.25 pts#17Bike63.07 pts#136Run88.76 pts#122015Overall77.71 pts#47Swim93.48 pts#14Bike63.07 pts#144Run88.76 pts#252016Overall83.80 pts#32Swim97.11 pts#10Bike82.06 pts#58Run78.31 pts#572017Overall83.80 pts#31Swim92.72 pts#16Bike82.06 pts#65Run78.83 pts#572018Overall101.25 pts#9Swim90.69 pts#17Bike93.64 pts#34Run99.42 pts#112019Overall102.71 pts#10Swim90.69 pts#16Bike93.64 pts#35Run99.42 pts#142020Overall95.58 pts#15Swim87.74 pts#18Bike82.14 pts#57Run90.40 pts#192021Overall47.79 pts#97Swim45.10 pts#125Bike41.07 pts#144Run45.20 pts#1282022Overall79.64 pts#44Swim91.15 pts#47Bike76.35 pts#65Run76.83 pts#672023Overall78.76 pts#34Swim81.03 pts#20Bike78.92 pts#38Run71.72 pts#532024Overall78.76 pts#36Swim81.03 pts#23Bike78.92 pts#39Run71.72 pts#53

* New PTO World Ranking System implemented.

Results
64 Races22
1
14
2
11
3
2024
Points: NaN
DatePlaceRace
Swim
Bike
Run
OverallSOFPoints
25 Feb
1
Husky Ultimate
24:57
2:23:03
1:26:14
4:17:16
55.47
28.5455.47
2023
Points: NaN
DatePlaceRace
Swim
Bike
Run
OverallSOFPoints
26 Nov
3
Challenge Canberra
25:15
2:32:29
1:26:50
4:27:58
70.07
75.0270.07
14 Oct
18
Ironman Hawaii
54:01
4:50:00
3:14:14
9:03:07
74.55
93.3574.55
10 Sep
2
Ironman 70.3 Sunshine Coast
27:21
2:22:59
1:23:29
4:16:53
73.95
72.7173.95
19 Aug
8
PTO Asian Open
28:22
2:08:50
1:16:00
3:55:15
82.77
91.2882.77
18 Jun
2
Ironman Cairns
51:31
4:53:21
3:09:31
8:58:48
75.19
67.8575.19
07 May
2
Ironman Australia
52:46
5:09:53
3:17:56
9:25:03
65.46
56.3365.46
26 Mar
2
Ironman 70.3 Geelong
24:14
2:19:47
1:22:28
4:10:39
72.81
70.0672.81
26 Feb
2
Husky Ultimate
26:45
2:25:20
1:24:31
4:19:36
59.29
54.2259.29
2022
Points: NaN
DatePlaceRace
Swim
Bike
Run
OverallSOFPoints
04 Dec
5
Ironman Western Australia
54:42
4:49:55
3:11:51
9:01:57
62.84
71.162.84
13 Nov
4
Ironman 70.3 Melbourne
25:04
2:15:27
1:23:10
4:07:51
66.7
69.7366.70
23 Jul
25
PTO Canadian Open
31:04
2:07:00
1:10:46
3:50:52
62.8
82.862.80
12 Jun
2
Ironman Cairns
54:01
4:53:44
3:12:32
9:05:16
68.94
49.2668.94
2020
Points: NaN
DatePlaceRace
Swim
Bike
Run
OverallAITPoints
07 Mar
DNF
Ironman New Zealand
--:--
--:--
--:--
--:--
08:55:05-
15 Feb
1
Challenge Wanaka Half
25:03
2:36:33
1:22:08
4:28:11
81.3454
04:20:5381.35
2019
Points: NaN
DatePlaceRace
Swim
Bike
Run
OverallAITPoints
19 Oct
1
Challenge Peguera Mallorca
26:31
2:29:14
1:22:25
4:21:42
83.0199
04:15:1283.02
14 Sep
1
Challenge Davos
26:16
2:07:07
1:21:52
3:58:23
91.2163
03:55:1791.22
07 Sep
6
Ironman 70.3 World Championship
26:37
2:43:02
1:19:59
4:33:38
88.307
04:28:5588.31
27 Jul
1
Challenge Prague
--:--
--:--
--:--
4:22:14
84.6111
04:16:1984.61
14 Jul
1
Ironman 70.3 Astana
--:--
--:--
--:--
4:07:43
86.3133
04:02:4486.31
30 Jun
1
Challenge Walchsee
26:58
2:25:13
1:24:22
4:19:45
85.6231
04:14:1685.62
23 Jun
3
Ironman 70.3 Elsinore
26:32
2:19:02
1:20:04
4:10:36
78.4887
04:02:4678.49
02 Jun
2
Challenge "The Championship" Samorin
26:43
2:14:21
1:19:15
4:05:36
94.1585
04:03:2894.16
12 May
3
Ironman 70.3 Vietnam
24:45
2:17:19
1:25:39
4:11:03
101.369
04:11:34101.37
14 Apr
3
Challenge Melbourne
27:23
2:17:28
1:20:28
4:08:30
73.4524
03:58:5973.45
24 Mar
1
Ironman 70.3 Davao
--:--
--:--
--:--
4:16:52
83.1925
04:10:3383.19
17 Feb
1
Ironman 70.3 Geelong
23:24
2:20:51
1:21:55
4:09:55
88.3287
04:05:3788.33
2018
Points: NaN
DatePlaceRace
Swim
Bike
Run
OverallAITPoints
08 Dec
1
Ironman 70.3 Taupo
25:12
2:26:24
1:25:08
4:20:47
78.8109
04:12:4578.81
25 Nov
1
Ironman 70.3 Western Sydney
27:41
2:20:51
1:21:38
4:12:25
86.9395
04:07:3486.94
18 Nov
1
Challenge Taiwan Half
27:25
2:14:37
1:21:21
4:09:01
104.916
04:10:52104.92
01 Sep
5
Ironman 70.3 World Championship
24:25
2:23:30
1:21:39
4:13:50
91.578
04:10:4091.58
05 Aug
1
Ironman 70.3 Philippines
27:56
2:18:00
1:21:56
4:12:13
101.845
04:12:55101.84
03 Jun
3
Challenge "The Championship" Samorin
28:19
2:15:54
1:22:23
4:11:42
96.9846
04:10:3496.98
13 May
1
Ironman 70.3 Vietnam
25:00
2:16:55
1:29:45
4:14:36
96.887
04:13:2596.89
22 Apr
3
Challenge Melbourne
25:24
2:21:29
1:20:56
4:11:12
60.7513
03:57:1460.75
25 Mar
1
Ironman 70.3 Davao
26:02
2:23:35
1:33:02
4:25:38
60.4768
04:10:4660.48
2017
Points: NaN
DatePlaceRace
Swim
Bike
Run
OverallAITPoints
03 Jun
10
Challenge "The Championship" Samorin
25:04
2:23:10
1:33:00
4:26:49
56.623
04:10:3156.62
01 Apr
2
Ironman 70.3 Liuzhou
20:46
2:20:49
1:21:25
4:08:39
72.6951
03:58:5272.70
19 Mar
2
Ironman 70.3 Taiwan
25:18
2:20:43
1:25:28
4:17:06
78.5896
04:09:0678.59
12 Mar
1
Ironman 70.3 Subic Bay
26:20
2:26:50
1:25:24
4:22:13
76.6228
04:13:2076.62
2016
Points: NaN
DatePlaceRace
Swim
Bike
Run
OverallAITPoints
23 Oct
3
Challenge Kanchanaburi
27:56
2:50:43
1:32:01
4:53:46
40.061
04:29:3240.06
16 Oct
1
Ironman 70.3 Hefei
24:59
2:22:16
1:22:59
4:13:50
84.1814
04:07:5784.18
04 Sep
9
Ironman 70.3 World Championship
24:10
2:26:51
1:22:37
4:18:17
82.88
04:11:4982.88
07 Aug
2
Ironman 70.3 Philippines
25:51
2:20:07
1:28:09
4:18:29
82.1239
04:11:4482.12
23 Jul
2
Challenge Iceland
24:35
2:37:28
1:23:46
4:28:21
67.3377
04:15:4967.34
03 Jul
DNF
Ironman 70.3 Norway
--:--
--:--
--:--
--:--
04:05:11-
08 May
2
Ironman 70.3 Vietnam
23:25
2:19:22
1:28:22
4:15:46
84.3493
04:09:5484.35
03 Apr
1
Ironman 70.3 Putrajaya
27:02
2:23:57
1:27:19
4:22:15
73.2046
04:12:0773.20
06 Mar
2
Ironman 70.3 Subic Bay
24:16
2:18:54
1:28:59
4:14:51
80.7101
04:07:4180.71
07 Feb
3
Ironman 70.3 Geelong
24:21
2:29:27
1:24:15
4:21:49
66.9963
04:09:2867.00
2015
Points: NaN
DatePlaceRace
Swim
Bike
Run
OverallAITPoints
18 Oct
1
Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie
22:44
2:36:14
1:25:29
4:26:39
58.0094
04:10:5158.01
13 Sep
3
Ironman 70.3 Sunshine Coast
25:02
2:25:31
1:21:56
4:15:10
64.5985
04:02:1864.60
30 Aug
16
Ironman 70.3 World Championship
23:21
2:39:57
1:31:01
4:38:15
47.4421
04:17:5547.44
09 Aug
6
Ironman 70.3 Wiesbaden
27:36
2:53:28
1:26:04
4:50:52
37.4491
04:25:5537.45
05 Jul
3
Ironman 70.3 Norway
24:40
2:28:39
1:25:19
4:21:38
59.2149
04:06:3359.21
2014
Points: NaN
DatePlaceRace
Swim
Bike
Run
OverallAITPoints
06 Dec
DNF
Challenge Bahrain
--:--
--:--
--:--
--:--
04:00:20-
19 Oct
1
Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie
23:49
2:38:05
1:26:25
4:30:40
50.4752
04:11:5750.48
14 Sep
2
Ironman 70.3 Sunshine Coast
25:43
2:24:59
1:23:02
4:16:21
71.1502
04:05:4371.15
07 Sep
6
Ironman 70.3 World Championship
24:32
2:25:42
1:23:33
4:17:47
77.9589
04:09:3277.96
08 Jun
4
Ironman 70.3 Eagleman
28:14
2:24:07
1:21:01
4:19:01
64.3438
04:05:5264.34
04 May
1
Ironman 70.3 St. Croix
27:01
2:37:15
1:24:08
4:30:13
81.9671
04:23:0681.97
13 Apr
1
Ironman 70.3 Putrajaya
26:42
2:31:27
1:22:11
4:23:09
73.2086
04:12:5973.21
22 Feb
4
Challenge Philippines
25:13
2:59:58
1:25:29
4:52:30
54.2078
04:33:4254.21
2013
Points: NaN
DatePlaceRace
Swim
Bike
Run
OverallAITPoints
10 Nov
3
Ironman 70.3 Mandurah
21:53
2:18:43
1:26:46
4:10:20
58.8105
03:55:4658.81
Ranking per Season
Overall
Year
Points
Position
2024
78
36
2023
78
34
2022
79
44
2021
47
97
2020
95
15
2019
102
10
2018
101
9
2017
83
31
2016
83
32
2015
77
47
2014
77
34
2013
19
126
Swim
Year
Points
Position
2024
81
23
2023
81
20
2022
91
47
2021
45
125
2020
87
18
2019
90
16
2018
90
17
2017
92
16
2016
97
10
2015
93
14
2014
90
17
2013
45
72
Bike
Year
Points
Position
2024
78
39
2023
78
38
2022
76
65
2021
41
144
2020
82
57
2019
93
35
2018
93
34
2017
82
65
2016
82
58
2015
63
144
2014
63
136
2013
24
217
Run
Year
Points
Position
2024
71
53
2023
71
53
2022
76
67
2021
45
128
2020
90
19
2019
99
14
2018
99
11
2017
78
57
2016
78
57
2015
88
25
2014
88
12
2013
29
123
TEST