Ronnie Schildknecht

Ronnie Schildknecht fills regularly the headlines with excellent results. The Zurich resident finished at a strong 4th place in the Ironman world championships in Hawaii and missed top 3 for less than 30 seconds only. He won for the second time the Half-Ironman Rapperswil and the Ironman Zurich.

Which attributes characterize you the best? 
I’m focused, confident and persevering.

What do you like?
Nature, calmness, animals

What don’t you like?
Cheaters, noise, unfairness

What sport would you practice if not triathlon?
Tennis and ice hockey. I do both sometimes.

What sportive achievement are you particularly proud of?  
Having finished the Ironman Switzerland 2005 on position 200 and obviously my 4th place at the Hawaii Ironman 2008.

And what was your most severe defeat?
My DNF at the Hawaii Ironman 2007.

You finished 4th at the Ironman world championships in Hawaii last October; what does this performance mean for you personally and for your sports career?
Personally a dream came true. For my sports career this was a breakthrough into the world’s elite, what I now have to confirm. I still have a big dream in mind.

What are your goals for the future?
It will be difficult next year to defend my titles in Rapperswil and Zurich and to improve in Hawaii. Every thing is not predictable. In particular an Ironman race has to be perfect. I had strong luck the last two years. They were almost perfect. Of course, this makes you confident, but this is all but a free ticket. I stay tuned to it and will always give my best.