I met with Daniela Ryf and her partner, Jennifer Estes, at the Papa Kona Restaurant here in Kona. The first thing I noticed was the warm, welcoming energy they both brought to the table. On paper, the 10-time World Champion may seem in a league of her own, but in person, Daniela is remarkably approachable and down-to-earth.
Just a few days ago, on October 8th, right here in Kona, Daniela premiered her new documentary, Life After Elite Sport, which chronicles her evolution from the most dominant long-course athlete in history to someone fully embracing life beyond the podium.
In a sport where retirement can sometimes feel like a loss – at least when it comes to one’s identity as a professional athlete – Daniela offers a more expansive take. She loved her career and the gifts it gave her, and she carries those forward with deep gratitude. But she describes this next chapter not as a step backward, but as a step forward, and one where she feels more fully and authentically herself than ever before.
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How Sport Shaped Her
Before the world titles were counted and her name became synonymous with dominance, Daniela Ryf ran down Ali’i Drive on a leap of faith, well outside her comfort zone.
“My coach forced me to do it…otherwise he wouldn’t coach me anymore,” she says with a laugh, recalling her first Kona. “I had to learn to be tough and to take things on even when I wasn’t ready.”
She took an impressive second place in her rookie debut, passed only by the legendary Mirinda Carfrae in the final kilometres. But beyond a podium, that race sparked something deeper: the beginning of a lifelong belief in her own potential.
Because Daniela doesn’t talk about triathlon in terms of medals or records. When she reflects on what the sport gave her, it’s clear: it built something within her that still lives on today.
“I found a much more empowered version of myself through the sport,” she says. “I found confidence, self-esteem, and a belief that I could do hard things – and make things happen.”
“I also learned just how much we can develop ourselves,” she continues. “I didn’t always feel the belief in myself that others on the outside had. But I learned that I could take the steps to get there. And I carry that forward into every new challenge today.”
Jennifer shares that, since they met, she has observed the deep devotion Daniela pours into everything she takes on. From the outside, it can look like things come naturally – like excellence is just part of who she is. But Daniela is the first to say it has never been about talent alone; it has been about showing up, being willing to learn, and trusting the process.
“I also learned how to manage pressure,” she says, noting that few experiences rival the intensity of being expected to perform as the GOAT (greatest of all time).
Prioritizing Balance and Giving Back – Even During Her Athletic Peak
As much as she poured herself into the sport, Daniela shares that it was around 2018 when she first felt a different kind of pull. By that point, she had already amassed multiple world titles, and something deeper was calling: she wanted her career to create impact beyond herself.
She takes us back to a moment that changed everything. Her father, a mountain guide who had summited Kilimanjaro more than 80 times, was living in Kenya when he began experiencing serious health issues. The medical care required upfront payment, which Daniela covered. A year later, when the insurance finally reimbursed the funds, she turned to her stepmother, Sophie, who grew up in Nairobi.
“I said, ‘Let’s do something good with this,’” Daniela recalls.
Together, they began supporting children in Nairobi’s Korogocho slum – one of the most densely populated and under-resourced areas in East Africa – by providing daily hot meals, menstrual hygiene products for girls, and supporting education, safety, and overall wellbeing in the community.
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“My dad passed away three years ago,” she shares. “It’s in his honour that we started the Daniela Ryf Foundation, giving back to the community that meant so much to him, and that now means so much to us.”
What began as a one-time act of generosity has grown into something far-reaching – and remarkably efficient. “For just 25 US dollars, we can provide a warm meal every day for a child for an entire year,” Jennifer explains, noting a partnership with Farm to Feed that helps make this possible.
Jennifer now runs the Foundation and is the one who dreamed up its most unique fundraising experience: an annual bike safari led by her and Daniela. Each year, a small group of around ten riders travel through Kenya, visiting Foundation initiatives and cycling across some of the country’s most stunning landscapes, combining adventure with deep purpose.
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What makes this all the more extraordinary is that Daniela began building this legacy in the midst of her racing career. Even as she chased world titles and endured the physical and mental demands of competing at the highest level, she carved out space for something greater than results – something rooted in service, family, and meaning.
“For a long time now, it has been very important to me to have more than swim, bike, run,” Daniela shares. “As an athlete, sport always took centre stage, but I also had other things, from my schooling, to friendships outside the sport, to meeting Jenny outside the sport. My identity has not been solely tied to triathlon…and I think that is why, during the transition, I would say I didn’t feel a loss of identity at all.”
And this is one of the core messages she hopes other athletes take to heart: “You don’t need to do only one thing to be great,” she says. “Part of what helped me have a long career was having things I cared about beyond the sport.”
Closing One Chapter, Opening Another
On March 1, 2024, Daniela announced her farewell season, giving fans the chance to celebrate her final year of racing. She opened the year with a strong fifth-place finish at the inaugural Miami T100, followed by a start at Ironman South Africa in April in an attempt to qualify for Nice – a race that unexpectedly marked the end of her professional career.
A back injury kept her from competing in the remainder of the season’s races. But when I asked Daniela about it, she’s at peace with the ending, and says the timing felt right to move on to the next chapter.
“My back is all good now,” she shares, smiling. “And I love that, because I can still run, still move, still do the things I love athletically. But now, it’s for an entirely different reason.”
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Gone are the threshold intervals and data-driven race prep. These days, Daniela prefers soulful morning runs and scenic rides with coffee stops and good company. Jennifer often joins her, and laughs saying that she was the one who introduced Daniela to the art of the “coffee ride,” a ritual Daniela quickly came to love.
When I asked Jennifer her perspective on this new chapter, she says: “I’ve always known Daniela has so many passions beyond sport. For a long time, triathlon had to come first. Now, she finally has the time and space to fully invest in the people and causes that matter most to her.”
Though she’s stepped away from racing, Daniela hasn’t stepped away from the sport. Just this past weekend, she was part of the live broadcast team at the Ironman World Championships, offering expert commentary from the media boat in Kailua Bay – a special, full-circle moment in the very waters where her dominance began. She’s also active in mentoring young athletes, collaborating with triathlon brands, and supporting initiatives that are helping shape the future of the sport. She’s replaced chasing her own finish lines with helping others reach theirs.
An Evolving Legacy
Daniela Ryf will always be remembered for what she achieved on the race course. Her dominance may never be matched. But perhaps her greatest victory will be this one – the courage to step into a new life with the same fire, focus, and heart that defined her athletic peak.
Her legacy isn’t ending, it’s expanding. Because legacy isn’t just about titles. It’s about what we build, who we lift up, and how we choose to move forward, even when no one’s keeping score.
And in that arena, Daniela is just getting started.
To learn more about Daniela’s post-racing journey, you can watch Life After Elite Sport now available on YouTube or explore the work of the Daniela Ryf Foundation at @danielaryffoundation or danielaryf-foundation.com.
The post Beyond the Finish Line: Daniela Ryf’s Next Chapter appeared first on Triathlon Magazine Canada.