She won here in '98, then lost her touch. She tried to make her Olympic team, but failed in that attempt. Now she's back for another go-round in the town, and in the race, where she scored her biggest triumph. She's one of three women to have won both the Zofingen Powerman and Ironman Hawaii -- Paula Newby-Fraser and Erin Baker were the others, and they're considered the best two women in the history of long-distance triathlon racing. Mark Allen was the only man who accomplished this, and we all know about his career. Being in such company, regardless of troubles she might have had lately, you have to take this girl seriously.

DAN EMPFIELD: Who do you consider your main competition here?

NATASCHA BADMANN: That would be myself.

DE: Would you like to say anything about your race strategy?

NB: I haven't been racing Ironman last year. There are lots of new athletes who weren't here before. So it is impossible to predict how the race will develop. What I'm going to do is not concentrate on the other athletes, because several may come out very early in the water, and so I'll just concentrate on myself. Do my race. Try to maximize my race. I trained very well, tried my very best to prepare for this race. I'm very happy to be here. I'm going out to the lava fields and try to have the same feeling, the same conversation with nature that I had in '98. That's my strategy, so far.

DE: That's sound like a great strategy.

NB: Is it enough? (Laughs)

DE: It sounds great to me. Earlier in the year you were trying to qualify for the Olympics, doing short races, training for short races. Did that help you prepare for Hawaii, or did it set you back?

NB: The last 2-years I did completely different training. I didn't train for Ironman distance, only for short distance. I tried to build my muscles for shorter, quicker racing. When I decided to come back to Ironman I definitely missed the long phase of building I had back in '98. In '98 I had several months of long-distance training. But because my body still remembers the Ironman I think my mind is prepared, and my body will do what my mind tells it. So it won't be a problem to cover the distance, and my speed is higher.

DE: In training and racing short distance you must get very fast in the swim...

NB: Yup.

DE: ...or else the race is over by the time you get out of the water.

NB: That's right. I would even say it's no more the same sport. It's still called triathlon, but you have to be a fast swimmer; just keep contact on the bike; and then run. It's not like the Ironman, where you are by yourself on your bike for 5-hours.

DE: Does that mean you'll have a faster swim than in '98?

NB: I'm not sure.

DE: You must have a time in mind.

NB: No I don't have a time in mind. I'm not going to overdo it in the swim, that's for sure. It's not the important part. It could be the important part if you go too fast.

DE: What was your longest bike ride coming into Hawaii?

NB: I would say 150 kilometers.

DE: Is that the same length as your longest ride in '98?

NB: Yes.