Nina Kraft

Nina Kraft (31 December 1968 – 17 August 2020) was a German professional triathlete from Braunschweig.[1]

Nina Kraft
Personal information
Born(1968-12-31)31 December 1968
Braunschweig
Died17 August 2020(2020-08-17) (aged 51)
Height1.7 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight61 kg (134 lb)
Sport
CountryGermany
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)8:58:43

Career

Kraft worked as a drafter until 1998, when she became a full-time professional athlete.[2] In addition to being a pro triathlete Kraft was also an artist. On her website she states that she "uses art to help her switch off and relax."

2004 Ironman World Championship

Following her win at Ironman Germany in July 2004 Kraft crossed the finish line in first place a few months later in October at the Ironman World Championship as the apparent Ironman World Champion. However, a month after being declared the winner, Kraft tested positive for Erythropoietin, better known as EPO. She and her coach, Martin Malleirer, admitted to the decision to take the performance-enhancing drug. As a result, she was stripped of her title and the second-place finisher Natascha Badmann was awarded her fifth Ironman world title.[3]

Kraft was banned by the German Triathlon Federation (DTU), for one year, after a positive drugs test.[4] This ban ended on 12 November 2005. The privately owned World Triathlon Corporation banned Kraft from all Ironman events worldwide until 16 October 2006. As a result of Kraft and Katja Schumacher's doping cases,[5][6] the DTU created the Elitepass: only Elitepass holders would be eligible for prize money, and they would be subject to unannounced drug testing.[6]

Comeback

After the end of her German ban, she trained in Clermont, Florida. She joined the Braunschweig club Tri-Lions and applied for an Elitepass from the DTU.

On 12 February 2006, she entered her first post-ban race, winning second place at the 15th Triathlon De Santos in Brazil. In August 2006, she won the German championship at the half Iron distance race in Kulmbach with a lead of 12 minutes.[7] In May 2007 she won the Ironman Brazil,[8] and on 3 November of the same year, she won the Florida Ironman with a time of 9 hours 5 minutes and 35 seconds,[9] breaking the course record[10] by 20 minutes.

On 1 February 2009, Kraft won the Tallahassee Marathon with a new course record of 2:45,[11] and she won the Ironman Louisville in 2009, 2011 and 2014, making her the oldest female Ironman gold medalist at the age of 45.[12]

Notable results
  • First place
    • Ironman Louisville 2014 - (9:31:19)
    • Ironman Louisville 2011 - (9:38:14)
    • Ironman Louisville 2009 - (9:20:21)
    • Ironman Florida 2007 - (9:05:35)
    • Ironman Brazil 2007 - (9:12:39)
    • Opel Ironman Germany Frankfurt 2004 - (8:58:43)
    • Kohler Haardman Oer Erkenschwick 2004 - (3:56:21)
    • Half-Ironman St. Croix 2004 - (4:37:01)
    • Ironman Germany Frankfurt 2003 - (9:03:11)
    • Quelle Challenge Roth 2002 - (9:12:41)
    • Ironman Europe Roth 2001 - (9:24:29)
    • Ironman South Africa 2001 - (9:33:11)
  • Second place
    • Ironman Louisville 2007 (9:51:53)
    • Ironman Hawaii 2002 - (9:14:23)
    • UK Half-Ironman Llanberis 2002 - (4:25:48)
    • Ironman Europe Roth 1999 - (9:29:25)
    • Neuseeland WM Mitteldistanz 1999 - (4:33:08)
  • Third place
    • Ironman Hawaii 2003 - (9:17:16)
    • Ironman Hawaii 2000 - (9:41:01)
  • Fourth place
    • Ironman Europe Roth 2000 - (9:40:01)
  • Sixth place
    • Ironman Neuseeland 1999 - (9:38:51)
    • Ironman Europe Roth 1998 - (9:57:44)
  • 16th place
    • Ironman WM Hawaii 1999 - (9:52:37)
  • 50th place
    • Ironman WM Hawaii 1998 - (11:02:47)

Two 2009 marathon wins at Tallahassee (2:45) & Gasparilla (2:47) where Kraft claimed both the masters & overall female titles.

References
  1. Langhardt, Klaus (13 October 2004). "Eine Frau aus Stahl". Stern (in German). stern.de GmbH. Deutsche Presse-Agentur. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  2. "Dopingskandal: Ironman-Siegerin Nina Kraft positiv auf Epo getestet". Berliner Morgenpost (in German). Berliner Morgenpost. 11 November 2004. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  3. Carlson, Timothy; Cameron Elford (12 November 2004). "Kraft's EPO admission continues to rattle triathlon world". Velo News. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  4. Canessa, Giancarlo (December 2004). "2004 Ironman Champ (Nina Kraft) Tests Positive for EPO". Triathlete.com. Triathlete, Inc. Archived from the original on 31 March 2008.
  5. "Über 70 Elitepässe ausgestellt (Over 70 Elite passes issued)". Darmstadt Triathlon (in German). Darmstädter Schwimm- und Wassersport-Club 1912 e.V. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  6. Bühler, Karin (15 October 2005). "Erwachen aus jungfräulichem Schlaf (Awaking from virginal sleep)". Berliner Zeitung. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  7. Carlson, Timothy (1 September 2014). "After The Fall". Trihistory. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  8. Skene, Shawn (28 May 2007). "Kraft and Galindez win Telecom Ironman Brazil". Ironman.com news. World Triathlon Corporation. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  9. Schwartz, Eric (5 November 2007). "Ironman Florida Results". Duathlon.com. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  10. Krabel, Herbert (4 November 2004). "Germans rule Ironman Florida as Vuckovic and Kraft win". Slowtwitch.com. Slowtwitch Inc. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  11. Kremer, Christina (1 February 2009). "Tallahassee Marathon". WCTV.tv. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  12. Carlson, Timothy (24 August 2014). "Weekend Box Aug 24 2014". Slowtwitch. Slowtwitch, Inc. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
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