Nina Kraft
 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 31 December 1968 Braunschweig |
| Died | 17 August 2020 (aged 51) |
| Height | 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| Weight | 61 kg (134 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Country | Germany |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best | 8:58:43 |
Nina Kraft (31 December 1968 – 17 August 2020) was a German professional triathlete from Braunschweig.[1]
Career[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
- 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[edit]
- ^ Langhardt, Klaus (13 October 2004). "Eine Frau aus Stahl". Stern (in German). stern.de GmbH. Deutsche Presse-Agentur. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
- ^ "Dopingskandal: Ironman-Siegerin Nina Kraft positiv auf Epo getestet". Berliner Morgenpost (in German). Berliner Morgenpost. 11 November 2004. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
- ^ Carlson, Timothy; Cameron Elford (12 November 2004). "Kraft's EPO admission continues to rattle triathlon world". Velo News. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b Bühler, Karin (15 October 2005). "Erwachen aus jungfräulichem Schlaf (Awaking from virginal sleep)". Berliner Zeitung. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
- ^ Carlson, Timothy (1 September 2014). "After The Fall". Trihistory. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
- ^ Skene, Shawn (28 May 2007). "Kraft and Galindez win Telecom Ironman Brazil". Ironman.com news. World Triathlon Corporation. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
- ^ Schwartz, Eric (5 November 2007). "Ironman Florida Results". Duathlon.com. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
- ^ Krabel, Herbert (4 November 2004). "Germans rule Ironman Florida as Vuckovic and Kraft win". Slowtwitch.com. Slowtwitch Inc. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
- ^ Kremer, Christina (1 February 2009). "Tallahassee Marathon". WCTV.tv. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
- ^ Carlson, Timothy (24 August 2014). "Weekend Box Aug 24 2014". Slowtwitch. Slowtwitch, Inc. Retrieved 6 September 2015.