Iben Stougaard

Iben Stougaard

What makes me unique as an athlete is that I love helping other new athletes. I especially like showing that people should never give up on their dreams, and should always believe anything is possible. I struggled for 20 years with a serious eating disorder, but now I am on top of it. I want to be an example and show that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Even if life is a struggle, you should never give up what really sets you alight. I am a fighter.

 

My best performances were winning in my age group at the Copenhagen Ironman and winning the Danish Championships series for my age group in 2015 and 2019. 

 

It is difficult to say which performance has been most important to me – there is a story behind all my performances. The 2018 World championships in long-distance in Odense did not end as planned, but I fought my way through although physically I was not functioning at all well after a violent fall in 2017.

But I was very proud of the IM victory in Copenhagen – I came in 7th overall. 

 

Fusion sportswear ensures that I am properly dressed for training and racing, every day and when I am relaxing. It is sustainable and comfortable, and just right for the Danish climate – no matter whether there are several degrees of frost or plus 30 degrees, you are always properly dressed. It is important for me that my kit doesn’t bother me when I train for so many hours as I do, and that I can sit on my saddle without being irritated over a lump in a pair of cycling pants. For racing, the speed-suit is a definite favourite, because I can wear it under a wetsuit without it restricting me, especially around my shoulders. I think I could live in Fusion clothes – and they last a long time. So I don’t have to go out and invest in new clothes all the time!

 

Birthday: 9 September 1980, and let's not talk about that any more. It means a new age group in 2020, but I am absolutely optimally prepared! More than I have been for a long time according to my coach. 2020 is going to be my year!