|
After years of knocking around the sport as a fun-loving amateur, Lori Bowden decided to take triathlon seriously. In a few short months, she stood on the top step of the podium at the 1997 Ironman Canada, her first-ever pro win.
A few short weeks later she found herself on the runner-up podium step of the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii. This result was the first of seven straight top-3 finishes in triathlon’s greatest race, a feat surpassed only by the sport’s greatest champion, Paula Newby-Fraser.
In 1999, Lori won the first of her two Ironman Triathlon World Championships. She set the endurance world a buzz by becoming the first woman to break the 3-hour marathon barrier in the heat of Kona’s lava fields.
Lori came within 29 seconds of breaking Paula Newby-Fraser's long-standing Ironman World Record at the 2002 Ironman Austria. Her time was 8:51:22. Lori now owns the 2nd and 4th fastest times ever -- Newby-Fraser has the 1st and 3rd fastest times.
Easily identifiable by her floral pattern suits, frizzy big hair and flair, Lori rocks the endurance sports world. Since deciding to get 'serious' she’s dominated her sport. One thing that hasn’t changed since her days as an amateur she’s still having fun. | 