Background
I come from a competitive swimming background at a high Danish level, winning several medals in relay swimming (including two gold medals in 1996) with the VAT89 swim team. Since my start as a triathlete in January 1998, I have worked my way to the world elite. I have given both long- and short-distance triathlon a go with much success. After my first long-distance achievements, including vice world champion in 2000, I decided in 2001 to focus on the Olympic distance. I participated in the Olympics in Athens in 2004 (7th) and in Beijing in 2008 (8th). Also, between 2003 and 2008, I won five world cups over this distance.
After the 2008 Olympics, I gave my career some serious thought and decided to return to the long-distance triathlon. This turned out to be the right choice: in 2009, I won the Ironman China and the ITU European long-distance championship. That same year, I broke my hand during training on my bike, and I had to take on the Ironman Hawaii with a serious handicap. I ended up fifth – and I got hooked to this very special race. In 2010, I achieved a new personal success by winning Challenge Roth.
I live in Birkeroed with my wife Anita and our two daughters Caroline and Emilie. I hold a college degree in teaching. As a professional athlete, I train under the auspices of Team Denmark at the national training centre in Farum near Copenhagen. I feel very privileged that I can live off my hobby, and when I’m not out traveling, training or racing, I dedicate some of my time to working with talent development at the Danish Triathlon Federation.
View Rasmus' CV (pdf)
Future goals
Winning the race of all races – the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii in October 2011. After participating with a broken hand in 2009 and a very unfortunate performance in 2010, I just want to do it next year. At Challenge Roth in July, I proved that I can muster the long distance in less than 8 hours. Now it’s time to take this personal success with me and turn it into a victory in the roughest of races. I’m still totally focused.
Partnership with ECCO
I’m very happy about my new working relationship with ECCO. I became interested in ECCO in 2009 when I heard about the new BIOM running shoe. It is really a revolutionary concept, and ECCO invited me to participate in the development of a running shoe tailored to my own feet. Right from the start, we entered into a very productive working relationship, and I’m intrigued by the openness I was met with. The people at ECCO are really dedicated, and I have learned a lot about shoemaking! One of the things I like most about ECCO is their approach to creating new products – they take their inspiration from nature and the human body. There is profound knowledge of human physiology, coupled with a unique spirit and enthusiasm. We keep learning from each other, and I look forward to continuing the success in the years and races to come!
Recent Professional Victories