Maltese triathlete Danica Bonello Spiteri has made history after securing an age group podium at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships in Nice.
No Maltese athlete had previously finished on the podium at an IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships, making Bonello Spiteri’s result a new benchmark for Maltese triathlon.
She achieved the result in a highly competitive age group featuring 389 qualified athletes.
From Ninth Place Back To The Podium
Bonello Spiteri began the 1.9 km swim strongly, emerging from the water in second place with a time of 29:52, behind Anja Štrovs.
The demanding 90 km bike course through the Alpes-Maritimes reshuffled the field. Bonello Spiteri completed the bike leg in 3:17:19 and entered the final discipline in ninth position.
She then produced a major comeback during the half marathon, completing the run in 1:35:57 to climb back into a podium position.
Bonello Spiteri crossed the finish line in an overall time of 5:30:29, finishing only a few minutes behind Germany’s second-placed Katharina Grölz.
Switzerland’s Corina Hengartner, a former professional triathlete, took the age group title.
A Result Beyond Her Initial Expectations
Bonello Spiteri revealed that she had arrived at the World Championships targeting a top-15 finish.
That goal had been shaped by her previous appearance at the championships in Lahti, Finland, in 2023, where she finished 69th among more than 450 competitors in her age group.
Her qualification for Nice was secured at IRONMAN 70.3 Antalya last year. She reinforced her form earlier this season by winning her age group in Alghero, Sardinia, her second age group victory across the qualifying races in this cycle.
Another Historic Moment For Maltese Triathlon
The achievement comes 17 years after Bonello Spiteri became the first Maltese woman to complete a full-distance IRONMAN race in 2009.
Bonello Spiteri said she hopes her latest milestone can have a similar impact and encourage other Maltese athletes, both women and men, to pursue ambitious goals internationally.
Following the race, she thanked the sponsors, clubs and members of her support network who contributed to her journey.
These included Quest Vitamins, RevivalMT, Garmin Malta, Eurosport Malta, The Sports Medics, Team Barry, Malta International Challenge Marathon, Idmatch Bikefit Lab, Flowbio Sweat Sensors, Neptunes Swim Club and Pembroke Athleta Athletics & Triathlon Club.
Her podium in Nice now stands as a landmark result for Maltese triathlon on the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship stage.
