Lisa Norden

Grown up in a smaller Swedish town I was the typical horse girl who was good at sport. I rode my bike everywhere (most times quicker than the bus) and learnt about hard work and responsibility in the stable. I wanted to go places with my competing but with limited finances horseriding proved to be a difficult venue.

In the summer of 2000 I rode my bike to Italy together with my mum. The day she turned 40 we put our feet in the Mediterranean having been on the bike for 19 days, most of these in a heavy rain... I had an old steel bike 5 sizes to big, gears down on the frame and bags attached both front and back. It did the work, but I can't say I was sold on the sport.

The turnaround was a few weeks after the return to Sweden when I signed up for a local triathlon event in my hometown. I had to breastswim all the 400m in the pool and was 2nd last out of the water... With a solid bike base in my legs I managed to overtake a whole bunch of people and win my age group.

Another year down the road my horse got injured and I made the decision to learn to swim and put some more time into my own training. This paid off and in 2002 I won the Swedish Junior Champs, the Nordic Junior Champs and qualified for Europeans. FUN! Finally I found a sport where you get rewarded for your training and commitment , not by the size of your familys wallet. ]

I still have all my family and friends back in Sweden. The horses are swoped for dogs but my mum is still active and have done three IM's since the cycling trip to Italy.

I'm currently based in Australia training with Darren Smith, my coach since 2007. I'm living the dream, riding my bike and training hard day after day. My ultimate goal is to found out how good I can be and how fast I can get.

The challenge will be to time this with the day if the triathlon event in London 2012...

I'm a World Champion!

August 23, 2010

The first female ITU Sprint World Champion in the World!

Wow, what a day!

Won the first ever sprint World Championship gold medal today in Lausanne.

I’m a WORLD CHAMPION!!!

On my bed next to me is a gold medal… need to look at it every once a while to belive it’s true.

I had a great day.

Swam exteremly well.

Got away on the bike.

Got two really strong girls with me. Emma Moffat and Daniela Ryf. Best possible scenario.

Got off the bike and ran hard.

Had Moffat with me at the half way point. Didn’t want to loose in the sprint. Did want to win the true way. The tough way. To run one off ones feet is the true way to do it.

I did it!

I managed to get a gap. I closed my eyes. I ran.

I won!!!

The headcoach put is hand out with a swedish flag. I had time to celebrate at the finish. My smile stretched from ear to ear.

It still does... a day later.

Stats for Lisa Norden are coming soon.