The Ironman in Australia Hall of Fame has welcomed a new member, with Mirinda Carfrae inducted ahead of next week’s IM Australia in Port Macquarie.
Carfrae became the 25th inductee, now sitting alongside those who have made a significant and lasting impact on Ironman in Australia over the years. Mirinda “Rinny” Carfrae is one of Australia’s best-known triathletes, having had success at the highest level throughout her career. Carfrae won the prestigious IM World Championship on three occasions, in 2010, 2013 and 2014, and the IM 70.3 World Championship in 2007.
“It’s truly an honour to be inducted into the Ironman in Australia Hall of Fame, it actually feels surreal to be receiving this honour, to have the privilege and support to race Ironman is one thing but to have spent half of my life literally living my dreams is just something I feel so lucky to have been able to do,” said Carfrae. “It’s wonderful to be able to add my name to the long list of amazing triathletes that have come out of Australia.”
Carfrae revelled on the big stage, finishing third at her first Ironman 70.3 World Championship in 2006, returning a year later to claim her first IM 70.3 World Championship title. In 2009 she had her first taste of the Ironman World Championship in Kona, finishing second and setting a new run record along the way. The following year she won her first IM World Championship, a feat she would repeat in 2013 and again in 2014. Her 2013 win included the third fastest marathon of the day, including the men’s field, and her 2014 run record time of 2:50:26 stood until 2023.
When asked which race stood out as a favourite, Carfrae struggled to pick one.
“It’s really hard to pick just one,” she said. “But I think my second Ironman world title would be right up there, my first was almost too early to truly appreciate and then when I got that second world title I really made sure to take it all in. It was also in my opinion my best performance in Kona.”
Between 2009 and 2016 Carfrae stood on the IM World Championship podium seven times, with three wins, three seconds and a third, ensuring that the Australian flag was proudly on display at the biggest event in the sport.
“I’m a very proud Australian and to be able to represent Australia on the world stage has been nothing short of wonderful,” she said. “For sure a childhood dream, I just could not have dreamed of anything better.”
Throughout her career Carfrae has claimed victory at IM and IM 70.3 races all over the world, continuing to be a great role model for those around her. Away from the sport she is married to fellow IM champion Timothy O’Donnell, with the pair living in Colorado with their three children. While Carfrae is now retired, she remains heavily involved in the sport through coaching and her role as a commentator for IM live broadcasts.
“After spending over 20 years racing triathlon it’s really nice to be able to hop over the other side of the fence and now coach and mentor other athletes on their individual journeys through the sport,” said Carfrae. “It’s also been such a pleasure to be able to join in with some race commentary – something I never thought I would do but truly enjoy.”
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