Inbal Haddad won the Ironman competition – on her way to the World Championships in Slovakia

(haipo) – Inbal Hadad, a 25-year-old medical student and resident of Bat Galim, managed to combine demanding studies, active reserve service, and grueling training, and in a short time took first place in the Half Ironman competition in Eilat. In an interview, she talks about her journey, the support from her family, and her aspirations for the future.

The connection to sports and competitions from a young age

Inbal Hadad was already drawn to the world of sports in high school. In the 11th grade, she joined the triathlon team and competed in the 12th grade as well. At the same time, she was looking for meaningful service and chose to become a commander at the Alon Memorial. From a young age, she loved swimming and was influenced by her friends who encouraged her to join the training. "I see it as a way of life," she says. "I didn't see anything difficult in it, I always liked challenges."

To combine studies with training, Inbal had to make quite a few sacrifices. "I would wake up at 4 a.m. to get to training in Tel Aviv at 6 a.m., and then go back to Modi'in for school. Studies were very important to my parents and me, so I invested a lot in them."

From Psychobiology to Medicine: The Path of Career Change

After her military service, Inbal began studying psychobiology at the Hebrew University, debating between psychology and medicine. While studying, she continued to train and compete, but in her second year of studies, she realized that her heart was more drawn to the world of medicine. She took a psychometric test, and when she was accepted into medical school, she left her studies and moved to Haifa.

Intensive reserve service alongside studies

With the outbreak of the Iron Sword War, Inbal's husband was deployed to Lebanon and she returned to her parents for a short period. But she soon decided to volunteer for the reserves and served as a casualty officer at Rambam Hospital. "From the moment the ground entry into Lebanon began, the shifts became very long and challenging. As a casualty officer, my job is to accompany the families of the wounded from the moment they arrive at the hospital and throughout the challenges of hospitalization. My job is to wrap the families around them and give them the feeling that they have an envelope for all their physical and mental needs. This was the period when I trained the least in my entire life, and the security situation also made it difficult to go out for training."

An unexpected opportunity to participate in the Ironman competition

In early December 2024, when the security situation began to calm down and her husband returned for a short vacation, Inbal was presented with a special opportunity. Rain Optics was sponsoring the Half Ironman competition in Eilat, and was looking for a candidate to receive a free ticket. “We laughed and didn’t believe there was a chance I would win,” she says. Her husband sent them a message with a picture, and after being impressed by her story and the significant service they both provided, they decided to give her the ticket.

Only a month and a half before the competition

Despite concerns about her poor fitness, Inbal turned to coach Dan Cooney, who agreed to train her just a month and a half before the competition. "Maybe my body remembered the training, and maybe I needed to vent my experiences," she says. In the end, she jumped into the competition and won the women's under-40 category. "We swam 1.9 km in the sea in Eilat, rode 90 km in the mountains, and finished with a 21 km downhill run. It took me 6 hours and 22 minutes."

Despite the pain and fatigue, she never stopped smiling the whole way. "I both enjoyed it and felt grateful that despite the difficult times, I am here competing, and in my heart I carry with me all the injuries I have gone through and how it is not taken for granted that my husband and children are here with me to cheer me on," she shares.

An impossible combination of studies, reserve duty, and training

The road to the competition wasn't easy. Combining medical studies with reserve duty and training required a lot of sacrifice. "I would plan to run from 5 to 7 in the morning before school, but then they would jump me into reserve duty at 2 in the morning and all the plans would change," she says. But despite all the challenges, she didn't give up.

Continuing to aim high: the next competition in Slovakia

After a short week of rest, Inbal began preparing for the next Half Ironman competition, which will be held in Slovakia on May 18. It is the Challenge Family World Championship, where she plans to improve her achievements. "It's a competition in a flat area, and I'm much fitter, so I hope to do better and be among the top five in the world."

Training is mental sanity.

When asked if she does enough to do anything for her own personal enjoyment, she replied: "Working out is my sanity. It's the thing that does me the best in the world." She makes sure to keep in touch with friends, but understands that there are limits. "I can't go out to a party until 2 a.m. when I have an early morning workout."

Support from family and husband

Despite the pressure and workload, Inbal receives a lot of support from her husband. "There's nothing in the world about him. I wouldn't have signed up if he hadn't signed me up," she smiles. When asked why her husband trains, he replies: "To catch Inbal running."

Dealing with crises, but not giving up

Despite the optimism, there were also difficult moments. "Two days before the test, I was with a wounded soldier and his family all night, and I couldn't give up the training that was critical. At the same time, I had to study so as not to fail the test," she says. But despite everything, she concludes: "In the end, it's worth it. I wouldn't give up any of it."