Nicola Spirig's Unbreakable Spirit Must Go On

Professional triathlete Nicola Spirig has had a remarkable career in sports: The Swiss-born female athlete started her journey more than two decades ago, always finding herself on the run to show that her unbreakable spirit can break physical barriers. The two-time Olympic medalist and one of the greatest female triathletes in history has recently proved that her will to move mountains has only grown stronger and stronger. Just three months after she had been seriously injured in a bicycle accident, the 40-year-old mother of three embarked on what may be her last ever sports challenge.

Competing at the Dekra Lausitzring racetrack in Germany, in the Pho3nix Sub8 Project race, she planned to complete the triathlon in under eight hours. “It’s nearly impossible to break those eight hours,” Spirig says. Against all odds, on June 5th, the athlete became one of the two first women in history to successfully complete the race as she wanted to: In less than eight hours. 7:34:22, to be more specific. She was only three minutes behind Ironman champion, Katrina Matthews — both breaking the previous world record set by Chrissie Wellington of Great Britain in 2011.

To celebrate her amazing path in the sports world, Swiss brand On released a campaign that captures the athlete’s dedication and ambitious spirit to achieve spectacular and (almost) impossible things. Titled “Nicola’s Spirit,” the video showcases Spirig as she gets ready for the race, training to overcome any physical and mental barriers with the goal to set a new record — for herself and for the world.

Written and directed by Simon Brotherson and produced by filmmaker Andrew Telling, the campaign video combines amazing aerial footage with voice-over interviews to reveal a docu-style short film that invites the audience to discover Spirig and the efforts she made to become a triathlon legend. Shot in her native land, Switzerland, in Germany, and in Gran Canaria, the film offers a glimpse into Spirig’s psyche and competitive spirit during her final year of competition.

“Nicola has defied the impossible and is the perfect embodiment of how the power of determination can overcome every obstacle towards fulfilling your dreams and ultimate ambition. Realizing your career-long dream as a 40-year-old mother of three shows there is no barrier that cannot be broken. Nicola’s spirit is truly emblematic of On’s core values,” says Feliciano Robayna, Executive Producer and Head of Sports Marketing at On.

“We believe in authentic storytelling rather than slick and highly scripted marketing — what resonates most is when we stay true to our athletes’ own unique and real experiences. We believe that longer-form content — which our brand is becoming known for — is the purest way to capture the spirit of sport in its truest form.”

The five-minute-long video is a source of inspiration for those who set big goals. Following Spirig as she trains against Gran Canaria’s breathtaking mountain landscape, the video spotlights the athlete and the way she defines “spirit.” The film also showcases her treatment after the bicycle crash she had suffered just three months before the race. With three broken ribs, a fractured collarbone, and a punctured lung, she had to choose between either stopping training or “deal with the pain and train.”

Spirig’s story narrated by On reaches its climax with the athlete achieving what many considered to be impossible. Ambitious by nature, the champion proves that barriers can be broken — even the most difficult ones. Yet, one thing remains unbreakable: Her spirit, which definitely must go on to empower a new generation of sports people to aim for big goals!