HOW SWEDE IT IS: WHY KATRINE CHRISTENSEN HAS A SWEET SPOT FOR IRONMAN KALMAR
Any defending champ would call a race they’ve won their favorite. And truth be told, you can’t fault Katrine Christensen for saying as much about IRONMAN Kalmar in Sweden.
“Yes, of course I love the race, because I won there last year,” Christensen said, with a laugh. “Of course, anyone would say that. But really, this race, it’s more special than any other out there.”
Christensen has done more than a few special and legendary events: South Africa in Port Elizabeth, IRONMAN Hamburg in Germany, IRONMAN Portugal, and even Challenge Roth. And oh yes, there’s Kona. Each could win a “Best of” award from any triathlete. But still, Kalmar tops them all for Christensen. And for what it’s worth, she has no Swedish connection. She’s from Denmark!
Christensen currently sits inside the IRONMAN Pro Series Top 10, and she is back in Kalmar to not only defend her title from last year, but also to accrue a few more points as she aims to move up in the season-long IRONMAN Pro Series points chase. With racing at IRONMAN Kalmar kicking off this weekend, we stopped her to ask what makes this event so special.
Quintana Roo: Katrine, what is it about IRONMAN Kalmar, Sweden that you’re so rapt about?
Katrine Christensen: OK, yes, I had some good results there. (Editor’s note: Katrine won the race in 2025, finished second in 2024) But the first thing I start with is the atmosphere. There are lots of races in cities, but you can come in and feel it when it’s a city that is all about the event. The city embraces the event. One of the locals told me last year that it was their national day for the city when IRONMAN shows up for the race in Kalmar. You can just feel everyone in the community is so welcoming.
And the swim, it’s amazing. There’s really a bit of everything. There are some open parts where there are waves, then there’s a narrow part in the harbor, and the people are right there along the shoreline. You can really feel the energy of the people at the shore. It’s that kind of thing that makes the swim so much more fun for me than many others.
QR: Is there something about it being in Sweden? Do you have an affinity for the country? Love the fish candies?
Katrine: Haha, yes, there’s something to that. It’s very familiar to me. The road conditions are very nice, just like in Denmark. It feels like I’m riding and running at home. Sweden is also known for its natural beauty.
QR: Let’s talk about the technical aspect of the race. Some love mountainous races like in Nice, France, while others love the mental effort of a flatish race like Kona. Talk about how Kalmar presents itself to athletes this weekend.
Katrine: Well, it all starts with the swim, which is an honest course in Kalmar Harbor that will test you, but it’s just so cool having spectators just an arm’s length away for a few parts of it.
The bike is my favorite. For me, riding a single 180-kilometer loop, I really appreciate it, instead of doing laps where you end up mixing in with the age groupers. With a single-lap course, I’m in my own space, and I can just settle in and focus on my effort. You also never see the same place twice. Technically, you need to be a good bike handler. There are parts where you really need to be aero, but there’s also 60-to-80k of the course with technical parts.
But the pavement is just the best. It’s super smooth, really good roads. I like these small roads, where I can ride past all these small farms. You see people picnicking all over the course. It’s very much like racing in Elsinore (Denmark). I really do feel so at home when I’m riding in Kalmar.
QR: How about the run?
Katrine: The run is like the bike; there’s a bit of everything. There are some small hills, and there’s this wonderful old part of the city with a lot of cafes, restaurants, again, with people out enjoying their day, eating their lunch, and cheering you on. The atmosphere is just amazing.
And again, there’s so much change. You’re in the city, you go past the harbor and along the small canals, then you go out into a bit of a forest. There are a lot of different surfaces: paved and gravel. And I keep saying it, but the atmosphere is just incredible. The track is great, but the people make the difference.
QR: Any last tips for athletes racing Ironman Kalmar this weekend?
Katrine: It’s a fast course! Just go out and enjoy what the day brings you.
QR: We hope it wraps up for everyone with the finish they hoped for, and maybe a special treat like that bag of Swedish Fish. Best of luck to you this weekend, Katrine, and to all IRONMAN Kalmar athletes!
