Tag: patrik nilsson

High-profile athletes join star-studded team for 2019

HOKA athlete Marie Perrier crosses the line with the flag of Mauritius

Host of high-profile athletes sign on the dotted line to join star-studded HOKA team for 2019. 

Leading triathletes David McNamee and Susie Cheetham (UK), Anja Ippach (Beranek) and Nils Frommhold (Germany), and Denis Chevrot (France) have joined the team for the year ahead, while the acquisition of French trail-running stars Audrey Tanguy amd Marie Perrier adds further strength to our trail roster.

Download the full list of 2019 HOKA ONE ONE EMEA athletes

Our European athletes delivered the best-ever year for HOKA ONE ONE in 2018, with 106 victories and 183 podium finishes across road, trail and triathlon. With more strength and depth added across all disciplines, it promises to be another boundary-breaking year.

Triathlon

More than 39 international and national-class athletes now make up our impressive team of triathletes for 2019.

Rejoining the triathlon stable this year are UK talents Emma Pallant (pictured below ©James Mitchell) and Joe Skipper, German sensation Boris Stein (pictured bottom of the page ©Peignée Verticale), leading French athletes Manon Genet, Charlotte Morel and Cyril Viennot, popular Swede Patrik Nilsson, Italian Alessandro Degasperi and Spanish athletes Saleta Castro, Enneko Llanos and Emilio Aguayo.

HOKA athlete Emma Pallant crosses the line at 2018 IRONMAN 70.3 Barcelona

Teaming up with HOKA from January 2019 is IRONMAN UK champion and two-time IM World Championships bronze medalist, David McNamee.

“It’s been incredible to feel my legs fresher than usual after hard workouts.  This, with the brand’s desire to continually improve, has me looking forward to the years ahead.” David McNamee

The 30-year-old from Scotland, who also finished second at the IM 70.3 Barcelona last year, has run sub 2:50h marathons in all four of his Kona appearances and clocked the third-fastest time (8:01:09) in Kona history in 2018.

“I’m really excited to start my partnership with HOKA,” says David (pictured below ©James Mitchell).

“Having tested the shoes over the past months, it’s been incredible to feel my legs fresher than usual after hard workouts.  This, with the brand’s desire to continually improve, has me looking forward to the years ahead.”

HOKA athlete David McNamee in the pool

Fellow Briton Susie Cheetham is another marquee signing who brings a wealth of talent and experience.

“Several of my heroes have had some of the best ever IRONMAN run performances wearing HOKA, and I’m incredibly excited to play my small part in such a superstar team.” Susie Cheetham

Susie has competed at the last four IM World Championships and has six podium finishes at various IM events to her name. She has no fewer than five victories over IM 70.3 distance and has recorded an IM marathon time of 3:00:47.

HOKA athlete Susie Cheetham profile picture

“Having trained in HOKA ONE ONE for some time now, I really love how my body has responded to the shoe,” explained Susie.

“Several of my heroes have had some of the best ever IRONMAN run performances wearing HOKA, and I’m incredibly excited to play my small part in such a superstar team.”

Breaking boundaries

Two high-profile German triathletes are partnering with us for the first time. Former IM 70.3 European champion, Anja Ippach, boasts five IM event wins and a fourth-place finish at Kona, and has made HOKA her footwear choice this year.

HOKA athlete Anja Ippach

“HOKA stands for innovative shoes and we share the same mindset of daring to push boundaries,” says Anja (pictured above ©Martin Rehm). “It’s great to have a shoe partner who believes in me and who helps me to run faster, further and longer. It’s very much ‘Time to Fly’.”

Joining his compatriot within the HOKA ranks is Nils Frommhold. The 32-year-old has five IM wins to his name, as well as a top-six finish at Kona.

“It’s great to have a shoe partner who believes in me and who helps me to run faster, further and longer. It’s very much ‘Time to Fly’.” Anja Ippach

Another established triathlete that will run with HOKA for the first time this year is Frenchman Denis Chevrot. Denis has competed in the last four IM World Championships and has racked up an impressive nine podium finishes over IM 70.3 distance.

“I’m really happy to join a young and creative brand which is always innovating to improve its products and the performance of its athletes,” says Denis. “I am sure it will help me to run at the next level and my global results will be better. I am proud to join the HOKA family”.

Trail

In 2019, there will be more than 24 European athletes representing HOKA across national and international trail events.

The team includes existing HOKA athlete Amandine Ferrato. Amandine (pictured below ©Peignée Verticale) will be joined by exciting new additions Audrey Tanguy and Marie Perrier. Between them, they make up the top-three female trail runners in France.

HOKA athlete Amandine Ferrato in action at the 2018 Trail World Championships

Audrey rose to prominence after winning the TDS race at last year’s UTMB.

“I’m so excited to become a new member of HOKA’s family in 2019,” says Audrey. “For me, HOKA is one of the most important brands in trail running. First for research and technological advancement in trail running shoes, and secondly for all the famous athletes inside the team. I’m sure that we’ll live great adventures together in the future – in France, Europe and the United States.”

“For me, HOKA is one of the most important brands in trail running. First for research and technological advancement in trail running shoes, and secondly for all the famous athletes inside the team.” Audrey Tanguy

Former UTMB winner Ludovic Pommeret, two-time Grand Raid de la Réunion champions Julien Chorier and Andrea Huser, and Germany’s Ildiko Wermescher are also on the world-class team.

Another key new addition to our team of trail athletes is Harry Jones. The Welshman, who boasts 48,000 YouTube subscribers, has won numerous ultra-trail races across the world, including The North Face 100 in Thailand and the TransLantau 100 in Hong Kong.

HOKA athlete Boris Stein on a training run in Mallorca

Road

Split across half marathon, marathon, cross country and track disciplines, our road team will consist of 13 athletes in 2019.

The team, headlined by international marathoner Benjamin Malaty from France and German marathon champion Frank Schauer, also includes Tokyo 2020 hopeful Thea Heim (Germany) and a breadth of established UK road runners.

Download the full list of 2019 HOKA ONE ONE EMEA athletes

Photo credits: James Mitchell, PEIGNÉE VERTICALE, Jacky Everaerdt (Activ’Images) and Martin Rehm

Kona calling for flying Swede Patrik

HOKA athlete Patrik Nilsson approaches the finish line at 2018 IM Frankfurt.

“Kona is, and has always been, the biggest IRONMAN race in the world.”

If you had any doubts about the importance of Kona to triathletes and fans around the world, then HOKA athlete Patrik Nilsson sums it up well.

“Everyone arrives at their peak, goes in super fit and with such high ambitions. But, of course, there can only ever be one winner, and you never know what will happen.”

And Kona certainly hasn’t been without its share of upsets and drama over the last 40 years.

The pursuit of greatness

In 1982, Julie Moss showed up to the IRONMAN World Championship as an unknown. The world watched as she refused to give up and crawled to the finish line. It was a run that would define her and her career to come.

Classic battles in the late-eighties between six-time winner Dave Scott and Mark Allen helped to define the sport for a new generation of fans. So just who will follow in the footsteps of 2017 victors, Daniela Ryfe and Patrick Lange, and take the honours at this year’s event?

“Everyone arrives at their peak, goes in super fit and with such high ambitions. But, of course, there can only ever be one winner, and you never know what will happen.” Patrik Nilsson

The annual event on the Pacific island of Hawaii never fails to deliver on excitement. It’s after hearing about the legendary Kona event that Patrik decided to hang up his track spikes in pursuit of greatness at the world’s most demanding endurance test eight years ago.

Trials and tribulations

Patrik’s top-10 debut last year was an admirable first shot. It didn’t come, however, without the inevitable trials and tribulations of more than eight hours of competition.

Patrik suffered intense stomach problems for the best part of the 42k run. He managed to summon incredible mental strength to rally and eventually finished eighth to become the highest-placing Swedish athlete of all time at Kona.

HOKA athlete Patrik Nilsson training in Mallorca

Not a bad feat for someone who only made his professional debut in 2013.

Now 27 years old, Patrik has gone on to become a four-time IRONMAN champion and has dipped inside the magic eight-hour mark on two occasions in Copenhagen and Barcelona.

Finding inspiration

Hailing from the small town of Saltsjöbaden in Sweden, Patrik now lives in Denmark with his girlfriend and coach, Teresa, and son, Matteo.

The life of a professional triathlete rarely tends to remain in one fixed place, and Patrik spends a lot of time traveling the world for various competitions and training camps to try and reach the top of his sport.

HOKA athlete Patrik Nilsson on the podium at 2018 IRONMAN Frankfurt.

“None of this would be possible without the support, huge work, understanding and love from my family,” says Patrik. “My biggest inspirations are Matteo and Teresa.”

“None of this would be possible without the support, huge work, understanding and love from my family.” Patrik Nilsson

Teresa, in particular, plays such a pivotal role in Patrik’s personal and professional life and it’s a relationship he describes as “just perfect”.

“Teresa does a huge amount of work taking care of our son alone when I’m traveling, together with being my coach and having her own coaching company in Denmark,” says the Swedish IRONMAN record-holder.

HOKA athlete Patrik Nilsson with his girlfriend and coach Teresa

“She knows everything about me. She knows about my recovery, my training, my life. She is always able to change the training so that we get the most out of it. It really is perfect.”

Turning dreams into reality

If Teresa is the person steering the ship, then it is Matteo who is undoubtedly the driving force behind it.

“Matteo is a huge motivation for me,” says Patrik. “It’s important for me to show him that everything is possible if you work hard and have a dream.”

“I’m in good shape, have trained hard and feel ready for race day. I will do everything I can to perform at my best.” Patrik Nilsson

Will that dream of topping the podium in Kona materialise this weekend?

“My main focus is to do everything I can and perform at my best,” says Patrik. “I’m in good shape, have trained hard and feel ready for race day. I will do everything I can to perform at my best, and then we will see how far that will take me.”

HOKA athlete Patrik Nilsson sits exhausted after 2018 IRONMAN Frankfurt.

Photo credits: Peignée Verticale, Activ’images and Patrik Nilsson

Keep track of Patrik’s progress and all of the HOKA athletes in action at the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona on Saturday by following HOKA ONE ONE.