Natascha Badmann
Natascha Badmann (born December 6, 1966 in Basel) is a professional triathlete from Switzerland and is the only European woman ever to win the Ironman Triathlon World Championships. She won the Ironman Triathlon World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2005. As most multiple-repeat winners of the Ironman world championships do, Natascha has garnered a nickname: "The Swiss Miss".
Natascha is considered the winner of the 2004 Ironman Triathlon World Championships despite placing second because Germany's Nina Kraft was disqualified after admitting to using the banned performance enhancer EPO.
Natascha is known for two main attributes: 1) her dominating ability on the bike (she can average 25mph (40 km/h) on the bike in a long-course triathlon, which is good for a male pro -- the average female pro generally rides 2mph slower); and 2) her ceaseless smile, which she typically keeps on her face for entire Ironman races.
Natascha won her first Ironman World Championship at the age of 29, when her daughter was already 13 years old.
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