Brett Sutton On Wellington Vs. Ryf Comparison: Not Yet
Since Ryf's win Sunday in Zell am See, Sutton writes that he's been asked several times to compare Ryf with four-time Ironman world champion Chrissie Wellington.
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Brett Sutton is the coach of Switzerland’s Daniela Ryf, who just won her second-straight Ironman 70.3 World Championship and is one of the top contenders to take this year’s Ironman World Championship title (she finished second in 2014). Since Ryf’s win Sunday in Zell am See, Sutton writes that he’s been asked several times to compare Ryf with four-time Ironman world champion Chrissie Wellington, who he also spent time coaching.
“I have said before and I repeat now, there will not be any public comparisons on Ironman ability until Dannie is able to win at least a Kona or four like Chrissie,” Sutton wrote in the blog post on TriTrisutto.com. “She has not earned that right yet.”
“However, that is not to deny her deserved piece of history in being the first woman to successfully defend Ironman 70.3 world titles,” he continues. “Her dominant performance (winning by over 11 minutes) and her undefeated record of 70.3 wins over the last 2 years I believe puts her at the front of the conversation as to the best 70.3 racer we have yet to see. And that is my opinion.”
“The good or bad news, depending on if you’re a female competitor, is that if she can handle the pressure that her electrifying performances are now putting her under, then I believe she will continue not just to keep winning, but more importantly keep improving.”
Sutton goes on to write that going after the Kona crown and then the final race of the $1 million triple crown (she is the only eligible athlete remaining) will “prove Daniela’s biggest opponent in the months ahead.”
Read the complete post at TriSutto.com.