ST. GEORGE — Matt Russell, a professional Ironman triathlete, is lucky to be alive, let alone competing in the World Championship happening in St. George on May 7.

In 2017, Matt was hit by a minivan while riding his bike 35 mph during an Ironman Championship in Kona, Hawaii. The impact was so severe it severed the external jugular vein in his neck, causing near-fatal bleeding.

Russell didn’t let that stop him, fighting back to the point where he was able to finish sixth in the world during the 2018 Ironman Championship.

Ironman competitions are just like the name would imply: steely. Most humans aren’t up for a 2.4-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run. For Russell, it’s just another day on the job. Leading up to a race, it isn’t uncommon for Russell to spend between 30-35 hours a week training.

Russell began his professional career as a duathlete, competing in run-bike-run events. In 2009, Russell decided to expand his athletic skills by learning how to swim a competitive freestyle stroke so he could enter Ironman events.

“The three biggest things to learn with swimming was being comfortable in the water, having balance and learning how to breathe correctly,” Russell said. “It doesn’t matter how fit you are – it’s very much technique-driven.”

Russell’s new swimming skills paid off handsomely when he entered his first Ironman Championship and finished 23rd in the world.

Overcoming setbacks

Russell’s life hasn’t been easy. As a young boy, he watched his mother suffer from ALS. She passed away when Russell was 13. As a way to cope with the sadness, Russell started running track and cross country, eventually earning a scholarship from the University of New Hampshire. During the time he was studying to become an occupational therapist, Russell expanded his athletic interests, joining the cycling team for a year.

Tragedy struck again in 2017 when Russell was badly injured at the Ironman World Championship in Kona. Russell credits not bleeding to death to the efforts of an anesthesiologist on the scene who applied the correct life-saving pressure on his severed external jugular vein. Despite the severity of the injuries, Russell made a full effort to get back on the bike and continue his professional career as an athlete.

“My mother set the example of never giving up,” Russell said. “If we can get through the hard times, we can come out on top.”

In addition to wearing an ALS insignia on his competition jersey and helmet, Russell performs the “Blazeman Roll” at the end of each race in honor of those who have suffered from ALS. This maneuver is done in honor of Jon Blais, a triathlete who was diagnosed with ALS at the age of 33. Blais became the first person with ALS to complete an Ironman competition, literally log rolling across the finish line.

“I do the Blazeman Roll in memory of my mother, Jon and anyone else who has battled or is battling with ALS,” Russell said.

2022 Ironman Championships

There are actually two Ironman Championships this year. The first is May 7 in St. George. This is a make-up race for the original 2021 competition that is normally held in Kona. Because of COVID, that race was postponed and eventually moved to St. George. This translates into a whole lot of training for Russell and other Ironman athletes.

Russell’s wife, Gillian, said she believes her husband is up to the task.

“It’s Matt’s life,” Russell said. “He eats, drinks and sleeps triathlon. It’s nonstop.”

Russell says the biking portion of the St. George race is especially challenging due to a course that requires 7,300 feet of climbing.

“For this course, time goals are kind of out the window. There’s a lot of things that can change a time such as wind and heat,” Russell said. “It’s more about placement than time.”

Several thousand athletes are expected to compete in this year’s Ironman Championship in St. George, but only 50 men and 50 women are qualified for spots in the professional category. Russell said regardless of how he places, he’ll be satisfied as long as he knows he gave it his all.

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