Army's Kat Matthews wins Ironman bronze in fairytale return after horror accident

Army triathlete Captain Kat Matthews has won a bronze medal at the 2023 Ironman 70.3 Oceanside in California in a fairytale return to racing following a horrific accident last year. 

Capt Matthews was hit by a car while training in Texas in September, sustaining serious injuries and was forced to miss the 2022 Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona.

In her first event since the accident, Capt Matthews pushed through to finish third behind eventual winner, Canada's Tamara Jewett, and the reigning Ironman Champion Chelsea Sodaro from the United States. 

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In the swim phase of the race, fellow Brit Holly Lawrence was unmatched, but it was Matthews who led the pack with a one minute and twenty nine second gap between her and Lawrence. 

But an incredible T2 (bike to run transition) between Matthews and Lawrence was a highlight as the two went head to head after parking their bikes to begin the running phase of the triathlon. 

Incredible transition faceoff with Kat and Holly!

Catch the race action live for free on https://t.co/HLRLKRY7CZ.#IM703Oceanside | #IRONMANtri | #AnythingIsPossiblepic.twitter.com/fGDvznmgk5

— IRONMAN Triathlon (@IRONMANtri) April 1, 2023

Capt Mathews' superb performance helped her cross the finish line in third with a total time of 4:12:27, with Jewett and Sodaro taking up the top two spots. 

Next up on Matthews' radar is the Ironman 70.3 in Texas in three weeks' time, which takes place a mile away from where her crash last year happened. 

The Ironman 70.3 in Texas will be a qualifying event for the 2023 Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona, which takes place later this year. 

Capt Matthews was named 2022 Army Sportswomen of the Year after a superb performance at the postponed Ironman World Championships where she won the silver medal. 

The 2023 Athletic Brewing IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside Women's Pro Podium!

? Tamara Jewett 4:08:09
? Chelsea Sodaro 4:09:31
? Kat Matthews 4:12:27

? presented by @AthleticBrewing | #IM703Oceanside#IRONMANtri#AnythingIsPossiblepic.twitter.com/yYf3wfg2K2

— IRONMAN Triathlon (@IRONMANtri) April 1, 2023