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What were some of your earliest triathlon successes?/Tell us about your experience of Ironman races?

I started triathlon when I was living on Lanzarote and worked as golf instructor at Club La Santa. Being on Lanzarote where one of the most legendary Ironman races takes place, IRONMAN naturally became my big dream. To develop as an athlete I raced half distance and duathlon races the first years. I won National Championships and have podiumed at European events and Championships too. But when I raced my first Ironman in September ’16 there is no doubt (!) I absolutely loved the long distance racing and feel like it suits me even better than the half distance. I have 3/6 Ironman Podiums and have been the best Scandinavian the two years I have been on Hawaii.

Who have been your biggest mentors and supporters along the way?

Denmark has a lot of great athletes and each and every one of them has been some kind of mentor (or inspiration) for me. I was lucky to have my early years in triathlon at Club La Santa where big stars from all different kind of sports come on camp. Observing them not only taught me a lot, but also gave me a lot of motivation and inspiration. It all makes it hard for me to name one, but I’d rather say that I have taken bits from many. And then I have to say my old golf coach, he is surely one of the people who has helped to turn me into the person I am today. 

In which discipline of triathlon do you have to work the hardest and which comes most naturally to you?

Swimming is the one discipline where I have to work hardest for improvement! It is the one that has been the most frustrating, but at the same time, it’s also the one that can make me feel over the moon with joy when I suddenly have a breakthrough performance… maybe there is a connection! 

I have always liked running, the last run test I did with the National Golf Team, only one of the boys ran faster, nevertheless it was only when I came to Club La Santa and started triathlon I found out how good I was at it and also started more structured training. Before that I ran fastest if I had played bad, and needed to clear my head. 

What have been your biggest triathlon triumphs and where in the world has the sport taken you?

I feel like finishing 12th in Kona – Ironman World Championship, Hawaii 2017 is my best performance to date. On paper I have better results in other events, but that is not always what counts. 

The sport has taken me to many amazing places around the world, I love adventure and exploring. I have been training and racing in most of Europe, but also in Australia, in The Emirates and in the States. Guess Hawaii is the most epic location, but it’s the combination of the history of the race and the island that makes it unique.

What’s the triathlon community like in Denmark?

Denmark is the country with the highest number of triathletes per citizens, even though the climate isn’t great for triathlon it’s a good and high level community. We have a lot of great athletes, and I strongly believe that it’s the inspiring and motivating community that makes all of us better. 

Jesper Gronnemark Photography

Some of my very best friends are in the sport too. It makes hard work so much easier when you have good company, and I feel very privileged to have my friends as training buddies.

The benefit of being a girl in a club environment is also that you always can find some good ‘age group’ guys, that will fit your level and can push you in the sessions you need that. 

How hard are you currently training and which events and races do you have coming up in the months ahead?

I’m currently back at Club La Santa, Lanzarote, and will do the Ironman here in less than a week – (May 25, 2019). It’s my first time racing here, and like you can imagine, I’m very excited about it. It was here triathlon started for me, and the race have been on my bucket list ever since. 

To find out more about Maja visit http://majastagenielsen.com