Carol Rasmussen: Unstoppable Charge
"My name is Carol Rasmussen, and I am an XTERRA Warrior from Denmark."
Carol Rasmussen (DNK) isn’t just any XTERRA competitor. Over the years, she has become a familiar and beloved figure in the XTERRA Community, known for her fun-loving spirit and tireless energy. She’s raced in countless XTERRA events, forging a reputation as one of the sport’s most determined athletes. Always a joy to hang out with off the course, Carol transforms once she hits the trails. When the gun goes off, the warrior emerges, and there's no stopping her.
Her journey into XTERRA began in 2011, sparked by a moment of serendipity. "It was by chance that my husband, Rune, stumbled upon XTERRA while searching for bike races. He revealed the news to me, and oh boy, did it brighten up my smile."
As a child, Carol’s swim coach once joked, "I was great at transforming water into whipped cream." Despite her natural limitations in the pool, Carol found her stride as a cross-country runner, until a serious Achilles injury forced her to stop running. "I was told to quit running by doctors, and so I sadly did," she recalls.
But the competitive fire never left her. Years later, Carol discovered a new passion—cycling, which evolved into mountain biking by 2007 after a terrible accident on the road. "In 2006, I had a bad accident in a bike race. I ended up with two fractures in my spine," she shares. But rather than slow her down, it became another hurdle to overcome. "As soon as I was out of my corset three months later, I took up swimming to train my back and it was only natural for me later to race Cross Triathlon.”
Her first international race was XTERRA Germany, and it marked the beginning of what would become a deep love for the sport and its community. "I was 47 years old, and people called me Carol Duracell," she laughs, reflecting on her unstoppable energy. This is also where Carol fell in love with the camaraderie of the XTERRA Community, noting, "XTERRA always throws amazing parties."
That first race in Germany cemented her connection to the sport, and from there, her journey truly began. It wasn’t long before Carol was competing on the global stage, with her sights set on bigger challenges, including the XTERRA World Championship. But the road to success was never easy—her warrior spirit was tested time and time again, and she always rose to the occasion.
Carol’s journey to the 2012 XTERRA World Championship in Maui stands out as one of the most intense experiences in her racing career. But the path to the start line wasn’t easy. Just one day before the race, Carol suffered a calf rupture. "I was devastated," she recalls. Despite the injury, she and her husband came up with a plan. "We taped up the whole leg so I could barely move my ankle, but I thought the race was out for me."
Then, as if fate had other plans, the island was hit with a tsunami warning the night before the race, causing panic across the island. “There had been an earthquake near Canada’s coast, and suddenly there was a warning for Hawaii,” Carol explains. The event was delayed, giving her a sliver of hope, and despite the odds, the start was confirmed for the following day.
The race began with one of the most chaotic swims of Carol’s career. "I ran into gigantic waves," she says, recalling how she battled the ocean. After a mix-up caused her to swim with the men’s group, she was certain her race was over. "I thought I had ruined it all and would be disqualified." But Carol turned around, caught a wave to surf back just in time to join the women’s start. She powered through the challenging bike leg, dealing with the steep hills and running in the burning afternoon heat.
"I twisted my ankle at the lake on top of the hill," Carol recalls, “but I saw another woman ahead of me and suddenly the pain didn’t matter—I was chasing her.” The run was pure determination. When her husband shouted that she was leading, it fueled her final push to the finish line. Against all odds, Carol won her age group at the XTERRA World Championship. “Even that night, before I went on the podium, I still couldn’t believe I had won. I cried with happiness.”
“Even that night, before I went on the podium, I still couldn’t believe I had won. I cried with happiness.”
It was an unforgettable moment for Carol, solidifying her place as a true XTERRA warrior. "My first XTERRA World Championship, and what a thriller it turned out to be."
Carol will be back on the start line in Molveno after qualifying in her 60-64 category during last month’s XTERRA European Championship, and she’s ready to embrace the next challenge. "I’m excited to participate, see old friends, and meet new ones too," she says, eager for what’s next in her remarkable XTERRA journey.
