Hamburg Triathletes Make a Splash in Ironman Europe and Qualify for Hawaii
Two females, both identified as burger servers, are receiving a travel ticket for a trip to Hawaii.
In the world of triathlons, two Hamburg athletes, Jenny Jendryschik and Leonie Konczalla, have proven their mettle by finishing among the top 10 at the Ironman European Championships. As a rewards, they get to savor the triathlon paradise of Hawaii.
While Jenny Jendryschik, a 27-year-old pro triathlete, has earned the nickname "the ageing wonder" after her performance in the Ironman European Championships for Women in Hamburg. She recalls, "Overnight, I aged 63 years. I'm moving like an old woman. Now I know how my grandpa feels - but he's 90 years old." Undoubtedly, the arduous 3.8 km swim, 180 km bike ride, and 42.2 km run took their toll on the young athlete.
For Jendryschik, this long-distance triathlon dream came true on Sunday, and it was indeed a Sweet Home victory for the home racer. However, her journey didn't end there. Five professional starting places for the World Championship in Hawaii on October 11 were awarded at the race in Hamburg. As the winner, Laura Philipp and other top-ranked athletes were already qualified, the seventh place finish by Jendryschik meant she secured one of the highly coveted places that she picked up personally on the "Cap San Diego" on Monday morning.
Struggling with tendon inflammation during her training, Jendryschik completed her longest run only four weeks before the race, covering 10 kilometers max. Despite the pain, she finished strong and is now one step closer to fulfilling her "lifetime dream" of competing in the World Championship in Hawaii.
Leonie Konczalla, a 34-year-old doctor of rehabilitation and sports medicine, has already checked off that dream. Having finished 24th at the race on the Pacific island two years ago, she has now secured a starting place for this year as well with her fifth-place finish in the Ironman Hamburg. "I knew back then that I wanted to come back because not everything went optimally. Two years ago, I had, among other things, had an accident just before the race, where my bike was damaged," she shares.
Konczalla, a Hamburg resident for 15 years, fought through the pain of every kilometer on the running course to be surrounded by friends and acquaintances cheering her on. "Every kilometer on the running course was filled with people I know," she recounts.
Jendryschik and Konczalla, fellow members of Hamburg Running and Tri Team Hamburg, are thrilled about each other's achievements. Though Henrike Guber, another professional triathlete, had already qualified for the World Championships before the race in Hamburg, the competitive spirit of the trio remains unbroken. The trio is ready to take on even more significant challenges and conquer new horizons for Hamburg and Germany in triathlons.
Despite their success in triathlons, Jenny Jendryschik and Leonie Konczalla, haven't limited their ambitions to just running, swimming, and cycling. They also express an interest in sports like hockey, showcasing their versatility as athletes.
In fact, the training regimen for hockey could potentially benefit their triathlon performance, as the sport requires endurance, speed, and teamwork - skills that would undoubtedly translate well to the triathlon scene. With their competitive drive, it's not inconceivable to imagine Jendryschik, Konczalla, and their teammate Henrike Guber defending the colors of Hamburg and Germany not only in triathlons but also on the hockey field.
