Natasha van der Merwe

General

Hometown: Austin, Texas
Country: South Africa
Date of Birth: June 6, 1981

Primary Race Distance: Long Course

Career Highlights

Half Iron PR 4:41 / Oly PR 2:13
3rd at IM 70.3 Kansas (earned Pro card), 2010
1st at Skeese Greets Tri, 2010 & 2011

2012 Schedule and Results

Jan 22: Spec-Savers Ironman 70.3 South Africa
Jan 29: 3M Austin Half Marathon
Feb 12: Ironman 70.3 Panama
April 1: Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Texas
April 22: Ochsner Ironman 70.3 New Orleans
May 13: Skeese Greets Tri
May 28: Capital of Texas Triathlon Oly
June 10: IM 70.3 Kansas or IM 70.3 Boise
June 24: IM 70.3 Buffalo Springs Lake
July 15: Avia Ironman 70.3 Vineman
Aug 5: Ironman 70.3 Boulder
Sep 3: Austin Tri
Sep 9: Ironman 70.3 World Championships, LV
Sep 23: IM 70.3 Branson or Houston Tri
Oct 7: REV3 Anderson
Oct 28: Ironman Austin 70.3

Natasha's Story

I was born and raised in Kimberley, South Africa. I came from an athletic family with both parents and older sisters very active in many sports. It became natural for me to follow in their footsteps at an early age and found myself in the swimming pool at 5am in the morning and on the tennis court after school, starting at the age of 5. I was able to participate in every sport imaginable from the age of 6 to 13 years old, and competed at a national and top regional level for swimming, tennis, track and cross country, field hockey, lifesaving, biathlon. It came a time where I had to focus in on one sport, and I chose tennis above all.

From then on, I started to represent my country at the top tennis junior tennis player and reached as high as top 50 in the World. After high school, the only option for me was to play professional tennis. For the next 3 years, I competed in tournaments and grand slams all over the world. My tennis career finally came to an end when I just got tired of being on the road all year long and longed to settle down. I found Austin, Texas as the perfect place to do so.

Then, 7 years after my tennis career, I longed to get into the competitive field again and was introduced to triathlon after a very brief period of running some local road races. Triathlon seemed the perfect fit, and I found myself in the pool again after 15 years and was introduced for the first time to the bicycle.

Triathlon has now not only become something I love to compete in, it has become my day-to-day lifestyle. The close relationships formed in triathlon (I met my husband at a race too) are something I was lacking while travelling and playing tennis, and I have finally found that balance. I look foward to a lifelong journey in this sport.

Athletic Background

Natasha is a former professional tennis player. She was the top-ranked junior in South Africa and top 50 in the world . As a professional, she was top 200 in the world and represented South Africa in World championship events. Natasha also competed in swimming, cross country, field hockey, and biathlon at a highly competitive level as a junior.

Personal

Natasha is the daughter of the late Allen van der Merwe and Dot van der Merwe ... Born June 5, 1981 in Kimberley, South Africa... Has two sisters , Tanya and Nadine.

2011 Results

Mar 26: Champions Tri Olympic -3rd
Apr 10: Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Texas - 21st
May 8: Skeese Greets Tri - 1st
May 15: Rohto Ironman 70.3 Florida - 12th
May 30: Capital of Texas Triathlon - 11th
Jun 12: Ironman 70.3 Kansas - 9th
Jul 17: Ironman 70.3 Vineman - 14th
Aug 7: Ironman 70.3 Boulder - 9th
Sep 5: Avia Austin Triathlon (Oly) - 4th
Sep 11: Ironman World Championship 70.3 - 23rd
Oct 23: Ironman 70.3 Austin - DNS, Injured
Oct 30: Ironman 70.3 Miami - DNS, Injured

2010 Results

Apr 25: Lonestar 70.3 – 7th
May 16: Skeese Greets Triathlon – 1st
May 31: Capital of Texas Olympic Triathlon – 3rd
Jun 6: Kansas 70.3 – 3rd (earned pro card)
Jul 10: Couples Tri – 1st
Jul 18: Ironman 70.3 Vineman – DNF
Sep 6: Avia Austin Triathlon – 10th
Sep 19: Ironman 70.3 Branson – 6th
Oct 17: Ironman 70.3 Austin – 19th
Nov 13: Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 – DNS

2009 Highlights

Finished the year as the best amateur woman in the SMW Region and a USAT All-American triathlete. Won the Regional Championships as well as 7 triathlons in Austin, including Jacks Generic, Couples Tri, and all the Red Licorice events Triathlons.