Personal DetailsDate of Birth - 13/04/1983
Height - 166cm Eye Colour - Blue Hair Colour - Blonde Residence - Noosa, AUS Nationality - Australian |
Running Stats800m: 2.05.72 - Melbourne, 7/03/02
1500m: 4.09.80 - Hobart, 9/03/02 One mile: 4.31.88 - Melbourne, 18/02/06 3000m: 8.54.56 - Melbourne, 9/03/06 5000m: 15.55.19 - Melbourne, 12/02/04 2k steeple: 6.25.77 - Sydney, 1/05/00 3k steeple: 9.24.29 - Melbourne, 22/03/06 |
Triathlon Stats2 x Ironman 70.3 World Champion
ITU Long Dist World Champion 6 x Australian Long Dist Champion 30 x Half Ironman Champion Ironman World Record 8:31:05 (2018) Ironman Australia Champion Ironman Asia Pacific Champion Ironman European Champion Ironman North American Champion 2x Ironman Western Australia Champion 2 x Abu Dhabi International Tri Champ Most sub 4:10 70.3's by any female (12) 23 x Course Records |
The Journey So Far...
The road to success all began for Melissa at the age of 11 years old when she first started athletics, contesting most events and quickly excelling in the 800m, reaching state level. She was soon approached by coach Brian Chapman and in the following year won the Australian Cross Country Championships (Under 12).
Melissa won her steeplechase debut over 2000m at the Queensland All Schools Championships in October, 1998. In December she won the inaugural Australian All Schools Championships under-18 2000m steeplechase title and, as the season closed, posted the Australian under-20 and under-18 2000m steeplechase records (both records still stand today).
In March 1999, aged just 15, Melissa won her first Australian senior title over 3000m steeplechase in a time of 10.15.77. She ran her 3000m steeplechase debut just a month earlier in Brisbane, clocking 10.26.95, and 12 months later at the next Australian Championships, held at Stadium Australia, she again claimed the Open title and became the first person to set a World (Junior) Record in the Olympic stadium.
Melissa won her steeplechase debut over 2000m at the Queensland All Schools Championships in October, 1998. In December she won the inaugural Australian All Schools Championships under-18 2000m steeplechase title and, as the season closed, posted the Australian under-20 and under-18 2000m steeplechase records (both records still stand today).
In March 1999, aged just 15, Melissa won her first Australian senior title over 3000m steeplechase in a time of 10.15.77. She ran her 3000m steeplechase debut just a month earlier in Brisbane, clocking 10.26.95, and 12 months later at the next Australian Championships, held at Stadium Australia, she again claimed the Open title and became the first person to set a World (Junior) Record in the Olympic stadium.
Proving her abilities weren’t confined to steeplechase, Melissa placed an outstanding eighth in the 1500m at the World Junior Championships in Santiago, Chile in October and then, in March 2001, placed 14th in the World Junior Cross Country Championships.
The biggest steeplechase competition to date was set for the 2001 Goodwill Games where the field included world No. 2 Irene Likma of Kenya and previous world record-holder Cristina Iloc-Casandra. Melissa was brilliant, winning the race by nine seconds, clocking the second best time in history and regaining her World Junior Record (9.30.70).
In December 2001, Melissa won the Zatopek Junior 3000m in a personal best time of 9:03.64 and, in the days that followed, ran the fastest 800m (2:06.10) and 1500m (4:15.67) in the 25-year history of the Australian All Schools Championships. In March 2002 she went on to claim her 3rd Australian steeplechase crown in a new meet record.
The biggest steeplechase competition to date was set for the 2001 Goodwill Games where the field included world No. 2 Irene Likma of Kenya and previous world record-holder Cristina Iloc-Casandra. Melissa was brilliant, winning the race by nine seconds, clocking the second best time in history and regaining her World Junior Record (9.30.70).
In December 2001, Melissa won the Zatopek Junior 3000m in a personal best time of 9:03.64 and, in the days that followed, ran the fastest 800m (2:06.10) and 1500m (4:15.67) in the 25-year history of the Australian All Schools Championships. In March 2002 she went on to claim her 3rd Australian steeplechase crown in a new meet record.
She ran strongly during the 2003-04 domestic season, slashing her 5000m best to 15:55.19 and placing third in the Australian Olympic Trials. Cruelly, injury resurfaced and Melissa did not run again until January 2006, when re-uniting with coach Nic Bideau.
Melissa returned with the resolve and determination of a true athlete, running at her best and setting massive personal bests in the 3000m and 3000m steeplechase. Two world-class steeplechases included another Australian title, in a time of 9.35.46 to break her own Championship record and a silver medal at her first Commonwealth Games - in an Australian record of 9.24.29.
A week later, Melissa was part of the Australian women’s short course team that captured the country’s first ever team bronze medal at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Fukuoka, Japan - finishing a superb 11th in the individual race.
Melissa returned with the resolve and determination of a true athlete, running at her best and setting massive personal bests in the 3000m and 3000m steeplechase. Two world-class steeplechases included another Australian title, in a time of 9.35.46 to break her own Championship record and a silver medal at her first Commonwealth Games - in an Australian record of 9.24.29.
A week later, Melissa was part of the Australian women’s short course team that captured the country’s first ever team bronze medal at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Fukuoka, Japan - finishing a superb 11th in the individual race.
In November 2006, Melissa required surgery on a ruptured hamstring tendon sustained during training in the UK earlier in the year. A lengthy rehabilitation followed and, just when all seemed back on track with some slow running, she was diagnosed with stress fractures in her lower back in May. A burst cyst in her knee surfaced the following month to cap a horror run.
In 2008, Melissa made a welcome return to the Australian Championships, finishing second (9:50.59) behind Olympic hopeful Donna Macfarlane. In early March she travelled to Stromlo Forest Park in Canberra to compete in the Australian selection trials for the IAAF World Cross Country titles. Melissa finished second on the 8km circuit in a time of 27:40.65 and secured her spot on the Australian team.
In 2008, Melissa made a welcome return to the Australian Championships, finishing second (9:50.59) behind Olympic hopeful Donna Macfarlane. In early March she travelled to Stromlo Forest Park in Canberra to compete in the Australian selection trials for the IAAF World Cross Country titles. Melissa finished second on the 8km circuit in a time of 27:40.65 and secured her spot on the Australian team.
Melissa ran strongly to finish 26th at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland, helping the team secure a bronze medal..
In April, 2010, Melissa once again dominated the field at the Australian Championships to claim her 5th Open 3000m steeplechase crown. During mid 2010, Melissa’s bid for the Dheli Commonwealth Games was derailed due to injury. It was at this point, while cross-training on the bike that she made the decision to change focus from running to triathlon. In the months that followed, Melissa enjoyed a stunning start to her triathlon career with numerous wins and a handful of course records within the space of a few months.
In April, 2010, Melissa once again dominated the field at the Australian Championships to claim her 5th Open 3000m steeplechase crown. During mid 2010, Melissa’s bid for the Dheli Commonwealth Games was derailed due to injury. It was at this point, while cross-training on the bike that she made the decision to change focus from running to triathlon. In the months that followed, Melissa enjoyed a stunning start to her triathlon career with numerous wins and a handful of course records within the space of a few months.
Melissa went on to take victory in her first 3 triathlons, claiming top spot on the podium in the Olympic distance Kinsgscliffe triathlon in September, Sprint distance triathlon at Raby Bay in October, and the well-established Gold Coast Half Ironman in a new course record. She then raced her way into the top 5 at the prestigious Noosa Triathlon in October and two weeks later took another win in Sydney. The most significant result to date came when she finished the year with a stunning 2nd place in the Asia Pacific 70.3 Championships in Phuket in December. Only beaten by Swiss star Caroline Steffen (2nd Hawaii Ironman and unbeaten over 70.3 distance in 2010), Melissa made an unforgettable impression on the media and competitors alike as she surprised and wowed many in the triathlon circles around the world.
In 2011, she made a full-time, dedicated switch to triathlon and went on to be undefeated in her first full year in the Sport. In the process she broke numerous course records and won a handful of major races around the world including the 70.3 World Championships, the 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championships and the shorter Olympic distance Noosa Triathlon. For her achievements, Melissa was awarded Female Triathlete of the year at Triathlon Australia's annual awards banquet. 2012 brought continued success with a further 9 podium finishes, 5 wins, 3 more course records and the Australian 70.3 Championship title . The 2012 season was however soured by a 4th place finsh at the IM 70.3 World Championships due to illness the week of the race. She came back from this set-back to finish the year with a series of wins in Augusta, Mandurah, and Phuket. Then continued into early 2013 with a win at the Australian Long Course Championships and the prestigious Abu Dhabi International Triathlon.
In 2011, she made a full-time, dedicated switch to triathlon and went on to be undefeated in her first full year in the Sport. In the process she broke numerous course records and won a handful of major races around the world including the 70.3 World Championships, the 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championships and the shorter Olympic distance Noosa Triathlon. For her achievements, Melissa was awarded Female Triathlete of the year at Triathlon Australia's annual awards banquet. 2012 brought continued success with a further 9 podium finishes, 5 wins, 3 more course records and the Australian 70.3 Championship title . The 2012 season was however soured by a 4th place finsh at the IM 70.3 World Championships due to illness the week of the race. She came back from this set-back to finish the year with a series of wins in Augusta, Mandurah, and Phuket. Then continued into early 2013 with a win at the Australian Long Course Championships and the prestigious Abu Dhabi International Triathlon.
Melissa continued her winning streak into 2013 with victories over the longer course triathlons at the Australian Long Course Championships, Abu Dhabi International Tri, Koh Samui Tri and the ITU Long Distance World Championships in France. She then went on to dominate the US season with four more Ironman 70.3 wins including her 2nd 70.3 World Championship in Vegas with another new course record. This win brought her a 2nd World Title within the one clander year. Only the 4th person in history to achieve this behind Simon Lessing, Craig Alexander and Leanda Cave. She also became the first female to win the World 70.3 title twice. Melissa returned to Australia to cap off her year claiming her 4th Australian Triathlon Championship title at Mandurah 70.3 in a new course record, and taking out the Phuket Double with wins in the Laguna Phuket Triathlon and the Challenge Phuket Half. Melissa's achievements for 2013 earned her the title of Female Triathlete of the Year by Triathlete Magazine. Ironman.com awarded her with Performance of the Year.
2014 began as another highly successful year with a series of wins around the world. Highlights included a 2nd consecutive win at the gruelling Abu Dhabi International Tri, followed by another Australian Title - this time at Ironman Australia on her first attempt at the ironman distance. Melissa also had a string of dominating half ironman wins at Challenge Phillipines, Racine 70.3 and Timberman 70.3. In 2014 Melissa was honored to be ranked by Triathlete Magazine at #13 on their list of the "25 greatest triathletes of all time". The year had shaped up perfectly in the lead-up to her 70.3 World Championship defence and her much awaited Kona debut. Unfortunately the remainder of the 2014 season was derailed by a severe injury to the chest from the hands of a freak massaging slip-up just days before the 70.3 World Championships. The misdirected force to the chest wall from the massage dislocated Melissa's rib from its attachment at the sternum, causing the surrounding connective tissue and intercostal muscle fibres to tear away. The result left an unstable, subluxing rib that continued to painfully click in and out of place with the movement of each heart beat. After 8 weeks recovering, Melissa made an appearance in few end-of-year races to salvage an otherwise disappointing 2nd half of 2014. 2015 began with a solid win in torrential weather conditions at Challenge Melbourne. In March 2015, Melissa produced has an impressive day out to win the Asia Pacific Ironman Championships at Ironman Melbourne. Against some of the worlds best Ironman athletes, Melissa confirmed her Ironman prowess to cross the finish line in a time of 8hrs 52mins.
2016 proved to be yet another incredibly consistent year of racing for Melissa as she went almost undefeated for the entire calendar year. She collected major title wins at Ironman Frankfurt (European Ironman Championships), Ironman 70.3 Wiesbaden (Europoean 70.3 Championships), Ironman 70.3 Geelong (Australian 70.3 Championships) (in a new course record), Ironman Western Australia (in a new course record of 8hr54min) and the iconic Huskisson Triathlon. She also claimed the silver medal at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Mooloolaba, Australia to become the most successful women in history at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships with a total of 2 golds, 1 silver and 1 4th-place finish. With winning the unprecedented 'Euro double' at Frankfurt and Wiesbaden within the space of 6 weeks, Melissa became the first athlete in history to with both Championship events in the one year. Her successful year of racing helped her reclaim the number one world ranking on the Ironman 70.3 Pro Rankings in September for the first time since leaving the top spot in September 2014.
In March 2017, Hauschildt underwent surgery to correct a kinked left common iliac artery. After the surgery was deemed unsuccessful, she returned to the operating table in June to have it repaired with a vein patch angioplasty to the common and external iliac arteries. This operation resulted in a series of emergency complications and significant blood loss. Hauschildt returned to competition later in the year. She eventually regained fitness to win the Asia-Pacific 70.3 Championships in Western Sydney and backed it up with a win at Ironman Western Australia in December for the second year in a row.
photo by Korupt Vision
2018 continued with wins at the Port of Tauranga Half Ironman in New Zealand and Ironman 70.3 Texas. In April, Hauschildt won the Ironman North American Championships setting a new IRONMAN® World Record of 8:31:05, breaking the previous record of 8:33:56 set by Chrissie Wellington in 2011. She became the first and only triathlete in history to win gold at three different regional Ironman Championships in a career (Asia-Pacific Championships in Melbourne, European Championships in Frankfurt, and North American Championships in Texas). The win also continued her streak of five consecutive years of Ironman wins and nine consecutive years of at least one Regional, National or World Championship win each and every year. She continued on to win the Ironman 70.3 European Championship in Elsinore, Denmark and also raced the Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championships in the Philippines where she came third. During this race she was reduced to a walk as she battled with the claudication symptoms of artery endofibrosis on her right side. She subsequently had vein patch angioplasty surgery to her right external iliac artery in November 2018.
