By Lindsey George

Sept. 7 was one of those days when the sun beckons people to stroll down State Street in Madison, savoring the warmth before the autumn winds sweep away the end of summer. Cheers for the Packers were rivaled by enthusiastic shouts for the Vikings as football fans crowded in bars to watch the border battle unfold.

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 people were swimming 2.4 miles through Lake Monona’s waves, pedaling along a 112-mile bike route and running 26.2 miles through Madison’s streets. Friends, family members, supporters and passers-by cheered on professional and amateur athletes as they participated in the second annual Ironman Wisconsin Triathlon.

Participants came from all across the nation, as well as across the globe. But it was a Wisconsin native that preceded the female athletes across the finish line. Heather Gollnick of Hartford completed the triathlon in 09:46:28, besting all the women in the field and all but 11 of the men. Gollnick’s husband, Todd, and children, Jordan, Joshua and Zachary, were there to see her win.

Before she was a champion triathlete, a working wife and mother of three, Gollnick was a self-described active and hyper child. She admits that she loved pretty much any sport when she was younger. Her childhood activity list ranges from dance to soccer to downhill and water skiing. She recalls a time when her father tried to keep her boundless energy in check. “My dad said he would give me $10 to sit still, I couldn’t do it!” says Gollnick.

Of all her childhood pastimes, gymnastics was Gollnick’s favorite. She began at the age of five, continuing on through high school. She was awarded a gymnastics scholarship to Valparaiso University where she majored in corporate fitness and sports management. It wasn’t until after she was working at General Electric’s corporate fitness center in Waukesha that triathlon training sparked her interest. She started training during lunch breaks and gradually prepared more. Gollnick’s first competition was in 1992 when she entered a mini-triathlon in Oconomowoc.

As an amateur, the triumphs began to accumulate. In 1998 and 2000, Gollnick was the USA Triathlon Age Group champion. She scored with World Champion titles in 2000 and 2001 and received honors as Midwest Multisport Athlete of the Year in 1999, 2000 and 2001, to name a few. In 2002, Gollnick debuted with a bang on the pro-circuit, winning the women’s competition in the inaugural Ironman Wisconsin. She followed up that act in 2003, gaining her second title at Ironman USA Couer d’Alene and again at Ironman Wisconsin 2003. These wins add up to three champion titles for the 33-year-old Gollnick in only her second year as a professional triathlete.

But these are not her greatest sources of pride. Gollnick is most gratified by what she has overcome in her family life. In 1997, after 24 weeks of pregnancy, Gollnick prematurely gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. The following months were filled with stress and innumerable hospital visits. Joshua remained in the hospital for five months while Jordan was there for seven months. Yet Gollnick and her husband, Todd, remained strong and made it through the tough time together. Gollnick says she is proud of “the faith we had during that time.”

Family friend and training partner Frank Alvarez admires Gollnick’s success as an athlete in the face of hardships she has encountered in her personal life. “Athletics are an outpost for her as far as stress goes,” Alvarez says.


As a duathlete (running and biking) on the pro-circuit, Alvarez’s acquaintance with Gollnick began when she was still participating as an amateur triathlete. When Gollnick moved to the same township near Milwaukee four years ago, they became training partners and friends, relationships that persist today.

During the season, Gollnick trains six days a week, often with Alvarez or another friend, Linda Gabor. Around the time that the Gollnicks were dealing with their premature newborns, a friend invited Gabor do a training ride with Gollnick. Unaware of the personal challenges Gollnick was facing, Gabor was under the impression that the triathlete did not wish to train with her.

“[E]arlier that year I called her at least five times and she didn’t return any of my calls,” Gabor says. “Her name had been given to me by someone else. Little did I know she was going through a lot with her twins that were premature.” She later discovered that Gollnick trained less, if at all, during those months because of her hectic schedule.

Gabor did end up going on the training ride and continued to work out with Gollnick, and the pair became best friends. Consequently, Gabor spends time with Gollnick and her family outside of training. One of their favorite activities is baking. They follow Gabor’s favorite secret cookie recipe. “Her kids mix the batter and we all enjoy more than our share after they’re baked … sometimes part of the batter doesn’t even make it to the oven!”

In 2002, with her three children no longer infants, Gollnick decided to further her athletic pursuits by becoming a professional triathlete. Gollnick says it was a decision she made together with Todd. She jokes that she made the switch partly because the deadline to register for the inaugural Ironman Wisconsin was later for pros, but she also admits that was the right time with her family life.

Though it may have been the right time, it certainly was not easy. Gollnick describes her life as “craziness.” She recalls a time when she was supposed to meet with people but had to take Zachary to the emergency room instead because he had banged his head. Still, she finds the time to train whether at night or while the kids are at school. Her advice to other mother-triathletes is to “maintain the balance. Things come up, just be flexible.”

Alvarez admires Gollnick’s consistency and dedication in both her personal and athletic lives. “Her dedication always carries her through … she knows what she’s going to do and she does it,” says Alvarez.

To Gollnick, the hardest obstacle to overcome in competition is the mental one she faces when she is behind and needs to catch up. Her inspiration is her daughter, Jordan, who has cerebral palsy. “I get to the point where my legs want to quit and all I need is a momentary thought of my smiling daughter who has been through so much and has worked so hard. If she doesn’t quit, then Mom can’t either,” says Gollnick.

If Gollnick has taken lessons learned from her children into the athletic arena, then she certainly has taught them valuable life lessons from her experiences. In April 2003, Gollnick obtained a DNF, or did not finish, in Ralph’s Half-Ironman in California. In a personal report on the event written for her Web site, Gollnick relates her encounter with Jordan when she came home. The 6-year-old was curious about how well her mother did, and Gollnick had to explain that she had essentially finished last.

“I was able to help my daughter understand that whether we win or lose, it does not change who we are as individuals. Learning how to lose while maintaining a positive attitude and spirit is just as important and fulfilling as the accolades that come with victory,” Gollnick says.

While Gollnick knows how to lose graciously and handle the hardships, she also knows how to celebrate success. Winning her first Ironman title in 2002, she did a cartwheel across the finish line. Her second title earned two cartwheels and now she is up to three. Still the champion triathlete remains humble.

“I still can’t believe I’ve won three Ironmans,” Gollnick says. “I’ve been really fortunate.”

For more information visit:

Heather's official site

Ironman Wisconsin official site

UCP's Web site, which is the leading source on Cerebal Palsy.