Paula Newby-Fraser
Encyclopedia
Paula Newby-Fraser (born June 2, 1962) is an Ironman
triathlete
and duathlete
. She was born in Southern Rhodesia
(now Zimbabwe
) and raised in South Africa
, where she was a nationally-ranked swimmer as a child.
She won the Ironman World Championship
in Hawaii
8 times in 1986, 1988–1989, 1991–1994, and 1996. She is also referred to as "The Queen of Kona". Over 12 years Newby-Fraser won 21 of 26 Ironman races she has entered around the globe, and dozens of shorter races too.
Newby-Fraser won 24 Ironman races overall between 1986 and 2002. In the '90s, she also competed in long distance duathlons like the PowerMan Zofingen, Switzerland
and the 1990 World Duathon Championships in Palm Springs. She beat the Queen of the Duathlon, Liz Downing.
Among numerous other awards, the United States Sports Academy
named her as one of the top 5 professional women athletes of the last 25 years (1972–1997). Paula Newby-Fraser held the Ironman Women's world record of 8:50:28, until 2008-07-13, when Yvonne van Vlerken
of the Netherlands
posted a time of 8:45:48. Paula Newby-Fraser is regarded as an icon for the Ironman distance in triathlon.
In 1991 Paula Newby-Fraser appeared with Cycling Master, John Howard (cyclist)
, in "John Howard's Lessons In Cycling" video produced by New & Unique Videos of San Diego, California. Newby-Fraser demonstrated the cycling technique called "The Hot Stop."
Newby-Fraser next began running ultramarathon
, which are running races of 50 km or more. She entered the Ridgecrest High Desert 50K in April of 1997. She set a blistering pace, and won with a new course record of 4 hours and 6 minutes.
Ironman Triathlon
An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation consisting of a swim, a bike and a marathon run, raced in that order and without a break...
triathlete
Triathlon
A triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...
and duathlete
Duathlon
Duathlon is an athletic event that consists of a running leg, followed by a cycling leg and then another running leg in a format bearing some resemblance to triathlons. The International Triathlon Union governs the sport internationally....
. She was born in Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
(now Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
) and raised in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, where she was a nationally-ranked swimmer as a child.
She won the Ironman World Championship
Ironman World Championship
The Ironman World Championship has been held annually in Hawaii since 1978, with an additional race in 1982. It is owned and organised by the World Triathlon Corporation and is currently sponsored by Ford...
in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
8 times in 1986, 1988–1989, 1991–1994, and 1996. She is also referred to as "The Queen of Kona". Over 12 years Newby-Fraser won 21 of 26 Ironman races she has entered around the globe, and dozens of shorter races too.
Newby-Fraser won 24 Ironman races overall between 1986 and 2002. In the '90s, she also competed in long distance duathlons like the PowerMan Zofingen, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and the 1990 World Duathon Championships in Palm Springs. She beat the Queen of the Duathlon, Liz Downing.
Among numerous other awards, the United States Sports Academy
United States Sports Academy
The United States Sports Academy is an accredited, sport-specific institution located in Daphne, Alabama. It offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs as well as certificate programs. Founded in 1972, the Academy has provided its sports programs to more than 60 countries around the...
named her as one of the top 5 professional women athletes of the last 25 years (1972–1997). Paula Newby-Fraser held the Ironman Women's world record of 8:50:28, until 2008-07-13, when Yvonne van Vlerken
Yvonne van Vlerken
Yvonne van Vlerken is a Dutch triathlete and duathlete, twice winner of Quelle Challenge Roth, who in 2008 set a then world record for Ironman-distance triathlon races...
of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
posted a time of 8:45:48. Paula Newby-Fraser is regarded as an icon for the Ironman distance in triathlon.
In 1991 Paula Newby-Fraser appeared with Cycling Master, John Howard (cyclist)
John Howard (cyclist)
John Kennedy Howard is an Olympic cyclist from the United States, who set a land speed record of 152.2 miles per hour while motor-pacing on a pedal bicycle on July 20, 1985 on Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats...
, in "John Howard's Lessons In Cycling" video produced by New & Unique Videos of San Diego, California. Newby-Fraser demonstrated the cycling technique called "The Hot Stop."
Newby-Fraser next began running ultramarathon
Ultramarathon
An ultramarathon is any sporting event involving running longer than the traditional marathon length of .There are two types of ultramarathon events: those that cover a specified distance, and events that take place during specified time...
, which are running races of 50 km or more. She entered the Ridgecrest High Desert 50K in April of 1997. She set a blistering pace, and won with a new course record of 4 hours and 6 minutes.