Words of wisdom: “Staying fit for me is a function of strength and flexibility. Doing Pilates is one of the most well-balanced forms of exercise because it combines flexibility and strength training.”

Known as the “Queen of Kona," Newby-Fraser is quite simply the greatest woman triathlete in the history of the sport. She won an incredible 24 Ironman championships during her career and eight Hawaii Ironman World Championships. But her greatest victory might have been her final one in 1996. The year before in Hawaii, Newby-Fraser had typically built a huge, 12-minute lead on the bike befitting her motto: “Win from the front.” But with just a half-mile to the finish of the marathon, she went down in a heap and crawled to the finish line in fourth. The following year, determined to go out on top, Newby-Fraser again led on the bike and in the final run to the finish, she kept reminding herself, “Just a few more miles. Just run to the next aid station.” And it got her to the finish first, for her eighth and final Hawaii Ironman triumph. After winning, Newby-Fraser said, “It wasn’t important for me to win today. I think that’s why I did.” Named “the greatest triathlete of all time” by Triathlete Magazine,  the native of Zimbabwe, now 44 years old, is a member of Multisports.com—a triathlon coaching company—in Encinitas, California. She is the author of two books: Zendurance and Peak Fitness for Women.