Patrick Lange named PTO Athlete of the Month for October after winning in Kona
triathlete Patrick Lange has been named Athlete of the Month for October by the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO), capping off a dream month in which he also took victory at the Ironman from Kona, thus achieving a German “double double”.
Just a month after his compatriot Laura Philipp Lange has returned to the top of the triathlon world and has done so with a performance that will go down in the history of the sport.
With 38 years, Patrick Lange broke the record for the race in Kona, winning his third title in six years, years in which he has experienced great ups and downs, and with the longest interval between victories in recent history.
"Not bad for someone who considered himself 'the boy next door winning world titles'“'” Lange said in the post-race interview, revealing even his own astonishment at the result.
A triumph dedicated to his mother
The most emotional moment of Lange's triumph came when she dedicated her win to her mother, who died in 2020 from cancer.
In the post-race interview, Lange confessed: “I always said my best day was yet to come and no one believed me, but this was the day. It was the absolutely perfect day. This is for my mom.".
Lange explained that during the first 5K of the Ali'i Drive run, she felt a special connection with her mother: “I felt chills all over my body, despite the heat. It was at that moment that I really felt her with me.”.
And the promise he made her in his last moment of lucidity in the hospice was a constant motivation: “She told me that she wanted to see me at the top once again. That she wanted me to achieve it. That was my big 'why'. I'm very proud that I achieved it for her.".
Road full of challenges
The way of Patrick Lange The road to success in Kona has not been easy. On the April 2023 episode of PTO’s “Beyond Human,” Lange spoke about the impact of her mother’s illness on her racing career.
"I found out I had cancer the night before a race in Vietnam. It was a tough blow. What I was doing meant a lot to her, but I didn't want to talk publicly about why my results weren't the best.“Lange explained.
The most difficult period for him was when he was competing in Frankfurt, the biggest race on German soil, while his mother was battling illness. Rainbow wrasseHis wife also shared how difficult it was to face that situation: “When you realize you don't have much time left with your mother, everything changes.".
During those months, Lange made hospital visits to be by his mother's side while she underwent chemotherapy, and then had to face pressure from the German media during the pre-race press conference.
"I had to say that I wanted to win the race, but none of that really made sense to me at the time. The result speaks for itself.”, Lange recalled of that race in which he finished in 11th place.
The history of Patrick Lange It is not only that of a great athlete, but that of a man who has known how to overcome the toughest moments and turn them into motivation to achieve victory.
The emotional dedication to his mother and the inspiring personal story make this recognition much more than just another title: it is a reflection of resilience and the power of sport to give meaning to life.
