Stars align for Rosenbaum at Ironman Worlds

“All the stars aligned for me, and I just feel so very blessed,” Melbourne’s Yisroel Rosenbaum told The AJN, reflecting on having represented Australia in his first Ironman World Championship, in Nice, France on September 14.

Just to be there, the ordained rabbi, financial advisor and AJAX men’s thirds footy squad member, had to qualify within a calendar year – which he did with a top 65 finish at last December’s WA Ironman in Busselton.

Then, by chance, this year’s and last year’s World Championships only, were scheduled on a Sunday instead of the usual Saturday, opening the door for Rosenbaum to take part this time.

He competed in a jersey featuring the Australian and Israeli flags, a yellow ribbon, and the message “Powered by Australia, running for Israel’.

The logo on the jersey Rosenbaum wore at the 2025 Ironman World Championships.Rosenbaum finished the gruelling 3.8km swim, 180km cycle, and marathon-distance run, in 11 hours, 38 minutes and 24 seconds, to place 156th out of 211 in the men’s 25-29 category, and 1,057th overall in the world-class field of 2,316.

For Rosenbaum, who celebrated his 29th birthday three days later, achieving that was the perfect gift.

“What carried me, as much as determination, was the energy from thousands of spectators lining the course, and especially having my wife Rivkah there, who has stood beside me throughout.

“Their cheers were louder than any pain I had.”

Rosenbaum discovered Ironman during the COVID pandemic, building on his passion for running.

“Two years ago, when I finished my first Ironman race, I never dreamed I’d be standing among the best at a world championship,” he said.

“Just getting to do it, and finishing it, was so special, given the fact that it could be my only opportunity.”

After his expected slow start in the swim leg, Rosenbaum overtook more than 40 competitors in the cycling leg, on a course used in a Tour de France stage.

“It was so cool riding through mountain villages and passes, ascending more than 2,000 metres, and tackling some very technical descents.

“There were crashes, so I took a sensible approach, came out unscathed, and moved up a bit in the field.”

Dealing with running into a strong headwind during half of the marathon leg, and with calf cramps in the last 7km, Rosenbaum still placed an impressive 109th out of 211th in his category in it.

“I was able to dig deep, and finish in 3:32:23.”

Rosenbaum has already booked in his next race, the Cairns Ironman next June.

“My body is still feeling good, so the plan is to keep competing.”