Germany’s Patrick Lange made an extraordinary impact in the mid-2010s when he powered to two successive Kona titles, both times posting new course records.
And there’s still time to capture a third world crown.
Who is Patrick Lange?
Patrick Lange had a colourful life before taking up triathlon professionally. Having developed a winning mentality when racing go-karts in his youth, he spent two years in the military before training to become a physiotherapist alongside his early days in triathlon; the German was also national duathlon champion.
Having posted a series of largely anonymous results in ITU racing, Lange shifted to long-distance competition and has never looked back – despite often leaving the opposition behind.
He’s since become a two-time Ironman world champion, with both victories accompanied by new course records. The second triumph, in 2018, saw him become the first person to ever go under eight hours at Kona.
In possession of exemplary focus and motivation, Lange has conquered the Ironman world by stealth. “I like to be in the background,” he notes, “and just race as hard as I can against the best – and win against the best.”
How old is Patrick Lange?
He was born on 25 August 1986, making him 36 years of age.
Patrick Lange's career highlights
October 2016: Lange contributes to German domination at Kona
Lange takes bronze at the Ironman worlds, but sets a new course record for the run, completing his marathon in 2:39:45, placing him on an all-German podium alongside Jan Frodeno and Sebastian Kienle. Indeed, five of the top seven are German.
October 2017: Lange becomes world champion – and the fastest ever
Twelve months later, Lange makes the top step of the Kona podium his own with an imperious performance, taking the world crown and, with a time of 8:01:40, shaving more than two minutes off Craig Alexander’s six-year-old course record.
October 2018: Another world title, another course record
Building on his success of the previous year, Lange comfortably takes the Kona title, this time absolutely smashing his course record by nine minutes and thus becoming the first man to go under eight hours in Hawaii.
Four minutes later, silver medallist Bart Aernouts becomes the second to achieve the sub-eight milestone. Indeed, even third-placed Brit David McNamee finishes inside the previous course record. At the finish line, Lange makes it a double celebration when he proposes to his girlfriend.
May 2019: Record-breaker at half-distance too
Another course record tumbles to Lange, this time at Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific in Vietnam. Here he defeats a strong field, one including Craig Alexander and Tim Don, thanks to a superb 1:15:55 run split.
September 2021: Lange tames Challenge Roth on his debut
In his first attempt at that iconic homeland race Challenge Roth, Lange destroys the opposition, leading home his second-placed compatriot Nils Frommhold by more than 11 minutes.
October 2022: A disappointing 10th in Kona
Like many of his opponents, Lange is shocked at the performances on display at the 2022 Ironman Worlds.
He finishes in a – for him – disappointing 10th in 7:58:20 – the 10th and last male to go under 8hrs, but a full 18mins behind the winner Gustav Iden – as the top four all break the previous course record.
June 2023: Smashes the Roth run record
Clock a 2:30:27 – the fastest iron-distance time recorded – at Challenge Roth, and even breaks Frodeno's course record with a 7:30:04 … unfortunately Magnus Ditlev goes 7:24:40, relegating Lange to second.
September 2023: Takes a silver in Nice
Lange offers further proof that he can still compete with the very best as he runs the fastest-ever Ironman World Championship marathon on his way to second in Nice.
Patrick Lange in quotes
On the pressure and expectation of holding that first Kona title: “I had to carry the burden of being world champion throughout the season. Sometimes, as world champion, you always have to win.”
On how he became the first Kona competitor to go sub-eight hours: “Running efficiently is a big part of it. We observed the Africans. They have a running style that is completely quiet. A normal amateur runner, on the other hand, slaps his feet on the ground. This wastes energy.”
On not seeking out the spotlight: “I like to be in the background and just race as hard as I can against the best – and win against the best.”
On finishing 10th at the 2022 Ironman Worlds: “Not the result I came for but seeing the winners perform at that level and with absolute brilliance is a massive motivation to go back to work and try to close that gap."
What's next for Patrick Lange?
A third Ironman crown proved elusive in Nice… will he be heading back to Kona in 2024 to give it another shot?
Top image credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images for Ironman
