Anna Kournikova talks to Triathlete
Tennis-star competes in Nautica South Beach Triathlon
Interview by Brad Culp
Photos by Robert Murphy, bluecreekphotography.com
April 15, 2008 -- You know our sport has made it big when the most downloaded athlete on the internet chooses to compete in a triathlon. Professional tennis player Anna Kournikova participated in the Nautica South Beach Triathlon last weekend, as part of an all-K-Swiss-athlete relay team. Kournikova, who runs regularly as part of her tennis training, did the four-mile run portion of the triathlon, finishing her leg with a very respectable 28:59 split (7:15/mile pace).
Triathlete got a chance to check in with Russian tennis-star (now living in Miami) before and after the event. Here's what she had to say...
Before the race...Triathlete Magazine: When did you first decide to enter the South Beach Triathlon as part of a relay? Have you done any other endurance events in the past? Anna Kournikova: I’m a spokeswoman for K-Swiss and they approached me with the idea of participating in the Nautica South Beach Triathlon. K-Swiss knows that I like to run as part of my regular exercise routine, so they asked me to be a part of their relay team. I have not competed in any other endurance events in the past, so I’m excited about participating in my first triathlon. Plus it’s for a great cause – St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Who else will be competing on your relay team? 
I have a couple of great partners for the race -- Dara Torres will be competing in the swimming portion. She is the first swimmer from the USA to compete in four Olympics and she has won nine Olympic medals. Katya Myers is a professional triathlete and has been in the pro ranks for three years. She is going to be doing the biking portion of the race. Any expectations for the four-mile run, or are you just doing it to finish? I have no set expectations – just want to finish and do a good job. More importantly, I hope that our team’s participation can help raise awareness for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. What kind of triathlon-specific training have you done to prepare? Obviously, as a professional tennis player, you were already incredibly fit, but did you have to make any big changes in your daily training regimen? I have a regular exercise regimen that includes running, walking and weights – a good mixture of activity that keeps it fresh and exciting for me. I haven’t made any big changes in my daily routine. I’m just going to stay focused and do the best that I can. Should we expect to see you at a few more triathlons in the future?
You never know. We’ll see how I do in this first one.
And after the event... What did you think of the event? Were
you pleased with your teams result?
I thought the triathlon was fun and
I had a great time. I was happy with our results – I came in 28:59
and the team time was 01:32:25, so I think the K-Swiss Team did a
pretty good job considering this was our first time. Plus, I think we
were successful in raising awareness and vital funds for St. Jude’s
Children’s Hospital.
What other sports do you enjoy, aside from Tennis and running? What’s your favorite sport to watch?
I enjoy doing pilates and yoga and I
love being in the water.I also love to watch professional basketball -
I’m a big Miami Heat fan and try to catch a few games whenever I am in
town.