Caroline Steffen

Caroline Steffen (born 18 September 1978) is a professional triathlete from Switzerland. She is the winner of the 2010 and 2012 ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships and took second at the 2010 and 2012 Ironman World Championship. Before competing as a professional triathlete she was a member of the Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team.

Career Steffen was born in Spiez and began her early competitive career as a swimmer. She enjoyed success as a swimmer competing on the Swiss junior and senior national teams and winning multiple national titles. In 2002, Steffen underwent shoulder surgery and would eventually retire from competitive swimming afterwards. In 2009, Steffen took fourth place the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Clearwater, Florida. A few months later she won her first major race, the Ironman 70.3 in Geelong in February 2010. She highlighted 2010 with a win at the ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships and a second place at the Ironman World Championships. In October 2012, she placed 2nd in the 2012 Ironman World Championship at Kona, Hawaii being narrowly passed by eventual winner Leanda Cave approx. 3 miles from the finish line.

The next year, in 2013, Steffen would start off her season racing at Ironman 70.3 Auckland and Ironman Melbourne, where she would place 2nd and 3rd. By mid/late season she would capture 1st-place finishes at Challenge Roth and Ironman 70.3 Philippines before finishing 5th at the Ironman World Championship. In 2014 racing Steffen won Ironman Melbourne.