If there’s one thing that defines athletes at the top of this sport, it’s resilience. And Kirsten Kasper just proved it. “I had no doubt I’d be back on start lines and competing,” the Olympian said, reflecting on the hip surgery she underwent in March.
Originally planning to make her middle-distance debut at Oceanside in April, Kasper postponed until December’s Ironman 70.3 La Quinta – and not only returned post-op, but surprised herself by breaking the tape in her first race over this distance.
A Remarkable Debut and Return to Racing
Since 2014, Kasper has raced under USAT, representing the US across the WTCS circuit as well as at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
When asked about her goals heading into La Quinta, Kasper said she wasn’t shy about telling her coach, Nate Wilson, that she was aiming for the podium. She exited the water in first, with American Jenna Campbell right behind her and the rest of the field trailing by 1:43 or more.
Kasper rode the early stages solo, but said she actually found it helpful, mentally and tactically, when a few athletes caught her mid-way through. That shift created race dynamics she felt she could respond to rather than defend against. She arrived in T2 in fifth as part of a lead pack of six, more than two minutes ahead of the chasers.
The run is where Kasper truly took control. A fast transition put her out of T2 in second behind Canadian Amelie Kretz, and she immediately surged to the front. By halfway she had built a nearly one-minute gap and, by her own description, was in disbelief at how strong she felt.
“The run felt like a dream come true,” she shared, noting that each mile reinforced just how far she’d come since hip surgery. Kasper continued to widen the gap all the way to the line, breaking the tape in her 70.3 debut. Kretz finished 1:28 back, with Anna Buttner rounding out the podium 2:12 behind.
Not Done With Short-Course Yet
Kasper’s win, of course, raises the question: is long-course her new direction? The Olympian says not so fast.
“I wasn’t able to realize my potential in Paris,” she said, referencing a race marked by collisions, unpredictable conditions, and a number of contenders falling short of their goals. “So LA 2028 remains on my radar. But Taylor Knibb has proven that it’s possible to compete in both short-course and middle-distance, so that’s what I’d really love to do in this next phase of my career.”
Kasper also credits her husband and primary training partner Matt Sharpe for helping sustain her ambitions at the top of the sport across both distances. “Matt is so incredibly generous,” she shared. “He devoted his own Olympic race in Tokyo to supporting Tyler’s [Mislawchuk’s] efforts to medal…and he’s played a huge role in my career as my main training partner.”
The pair currently live and train together in Boulder, Colorado, and are preparing to relocate to Scottsdale, Arizona – a topic we’ll dive into further in our upcoming retirement interview with Sharpe.
Passing Her Resilience Forward
Kasper’s hip surgery followed an accident slipping on ice, an injury that simply wasn’t healing with conservative treatment. Eventually, she was told surgery was the only realistic path back to start lines.
“I was able to maintain a positive outlook about my return to sport largely thanks to the people around me,” Kasper shared. “And one of my goals is to pass that forward. Surgeries can be scary, and I think it’s game-changing to connect with others who have gone through them and come out stronger on the other side.”
Looking ahead, Kasper will train through the holidays for her second 70.3 in Pucon in January. “Matt has raced Pucon twice and always spoken incredibly highly about it,” she said. “I’ve also just come off a really long break from injury, so I’m genuinely excited to dive back into racing.”
Stay tuned for a companion piece later this week featuring Kasper’s husband, Matt Sharpe, discussing his recent retirement announcement and the couple’s upcoming move to Arizona.
The post Olympian Kirsten Kasper Wins Debut 70.3 Just Nine Months After Hip Surgery appeared first on Triathlon Magazine Canada.