Listen to Els Visser’s interview with The Podium Podcast below:
Imagine you are on a sinking boat in the middle of nowhere with no way to contact help, having to make a life or death decision. You have two choices; sink or swim. It was the latter for Dutch doctor-turned-Ironman athlete Els Visser who is in Taupō to compete this weekend, Zoë George writes.
Els Visser has an infectious energy, a zest for life and a steely determination to push through the pain to make it to the podium. That’s where the 32-year-old is aiming to be after a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and a marathon around Lake Taupō for Ironman New Zealand on Saturday.
The Ironman swim is her least favourite part of the race, for good reasons.
In 2014, after completing her medical residency, she boarded a boat with 24 others – including New Zealander Gaylene Wilkinson – to go on a diving trip off the coast of Indonesia. On the first night, their boat struck a reef, but the captain decided it was fine to continue. The next day the weather was rough, the waves were high, and Visser battled as sea sickness kicked in.
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Els Visser crosses the finish line at Challenge Wanaka 2023
That night, while resting in the open cabin shared with the others, a window above her head shattered and the waves started to crash through. A large hole had been ripped in the side of the boat, and it was sinking, fast.
On went the life jacket. She stashed her passport and camera memory card in a money belt, and went into “survival mode”, she told The Podium podcast.
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It became clear the boat was not equipped with the technology to contact help and cell phones had no reception. The lifeboat wasn’t much help either, with only room for six people and no paddle or motor. A large wave crashed into the side of the sinking vessel, plunging her and the others into the water.
As the sun rose the following day, she spied an island in the far distance. The decision was made. This was her only chance at survival. Sink or swim.
There wasn’t even a “second thought”, so she and several others started to swim for land. Among them was Wilkinson, who lives in Golden Bay. They tried to swim together as a group, but the current tore them apart, leaving only Visser and Wilkinson paddling together.
Martin de Ruyter
Gaylene Wilkinson and partner Tony Lawton were on the boat with Visser when it sank off the coast of Indonesia (file)
As the hours passed, adrenaline continued to course through Visser’s veins. Six hours in, the duo figured they were close; they could see individual trees on the island. They pushed through relying on each other for moral support. For eight hours they battled the salt water, currents and burning sun – at times questioning whether they could make it – until they made landfall at uninhabited, active volcanic island, Sangeang Api.
“We were fighting for our lives. I was in such a state of survival, I didn’t have any other emotions,” she said.
A few other swimmers – but not all – managed to make it to a different part of the island. But survival mode continued as they searched for water, food and shelter. They drank urine to survive.
It would be another 24 hours until they were rescued. A wave of relief washed over her when they were saved by a passing vessel. Twenty three were plucked that day from either the island or the ocean. Two passengers have never been found.
“[When] I saw that little boat coming towards us … I started crying. I couldn’t believe it. But I also realised ‘wow my life isn’t over, and I still get another life to live’,” she said.
That near-death experience has led her to live life “moment by moment, day by day”.
“I enjoy every morning. I wake up and embrace the moments I have.”
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Ironman athlete Els Visser on the run during Challenge Wanaka 2023
Before her ordeal, she wasn’t an athlete by any stretch of the imagination, but came to Ironman “by accident”. After returning to her homeland, she tried sprint triathlon in 2016, but it was too easy compared to what she had endured.
A medical colleague told her about Ironman racing. She watched some videos and saw the “effort, energy and emotions” participants put into the race, and the “reward” of crossing the finish line.
In her first outing as an amateur Ironman racer in 2017 – and after just 10 months of training – she finished fourth overall, ahead of many of her professional counterparts. The medical career was put on hold, and she turned pro in 2017. Her first win came a year later, and she went on to finish 19th at the Ironman World Championships in Kona in 2019.
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Ironman athlete Els Visser on the podium (left) at Challenge Wanaka 2023
Podium finishes have come thick and fast, the most recent at Challenge Wānaka just a few weeks ago, as she eyes up the world champs later this year. The race is a “battle with yourself” and you have to be mentally strong to not give up.
“It comes down to hard work, but also for passion for what you do,” she said.
“But when you cross the finish line, it’s such a good feeling. If I was to give up I would feel bad the next day. What I learnt in Indonesia is that we are … physically and mentally so strong and can achieve many things.”
As for the swim? It’s hard mentally, particularly in choppy waters.
“I always try to stay calm and focus on my breathing. The good thing is at these big events, you have people to rescue you … who keep an eye on us. I can’t compare that with the situation in Indonesia when it was just me and Gaylene and the big ocean,” she said.
“I hope I can show what I’m capable of. If I can win … New Zealand is so special to me, it would be the cherry on top.”
