Dorothee Bittner impressed: Back to the Ironman distance at the age of 60!

Dorothee Bittner impressed: Back to the Ironman distance at the age of 60!

On August 16, 2025, Dorothee Bittner set off on a sporting comeback in Roth that could hardly have been more heroic. After 28 years, the 60-year-old returned to an Ironman distance and triumphed over her personal challenges. Her recent break was marked by health setbacks, including rheumatism and a weak immune system. But despite these adversities, she did not allow herself to be discouraged and competed with the determination to prove to herself that she could overcome this distance. Mercury reports on her first Ironman race since 1997.

As a member of the Trisport Erding club, she was the first woman to successfully complete the Ironman distance in Roth. The route includes an impressive 3.8 km of swimming, 180 km of cycling and a 42 km marathon – a real challenge! Bittner, who signed up for another Ironman in 2000 but was unable to take part due to health problems, had planned race day as a secret project. Only her son Mark and her husband Franz knew about her preparations.

Preparing for the big race

The preparations have been irregular over the last few months, but their dedication was clear. In total, Bittner swam around 55 km in the pool, supplemented her training with cross trainer units and cycled using Zwift. Although the physical pressure of the competition was great, she started in the penultimate starting group at 8:10 a.m. on race day. Even though swimming was considered particularly demanding for her, the athlete's “fighting heart” refused to be broken.

However, the challenges awaited her not only in the water, but also during the marathon. Battling nausea and exhaustion, she was still able to reach the crucial cut-off time at kilometer 30. After almost 15 hours, she finally reached the finish line at 11:05 p.m., accompanied by thunderous applause. The most emotional moment of the day for Bittner was the finish, which she described as the greatest thing. Even though she came last in her age group, that wasn't a problem for her; reaching the distance was their only goal.

The future in sight

It was a day full of emotions and personal achievements. Bittner is already planning her next challenge and would like to take part in the middle distance at Brombachsee at the end of August. She wants to continue using her equipment and hopes that her comeback won't just be a one-off adventure. Her story is an inspiring example of what determination and passion can achieve.