Hockey legend Zdeno Chara turns his sights on triathlons and marathons
After a marathon 24-year hockey career that included 5 Olympics and a Stanley Cup, this former hockey star will compete at Clash Daytona
Photo by:
Kevin Mackinnon
After playing 1,680 games in the NHL, the most for a defenceman, 46-year-0ld Zdeno Chara has turned his sights on a new challenge – marathon and triathlon racing. The 6’9″ (2.06 m) star played in the NHL for 24 years, represented Slovakia at five Olympic Games and captained the Boston Bruins for all 14 years he played with the team. He won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenceman in 2009 and led his team to the Stanley Cup finals in 2011, 2013 and 2019, with the team winning the cup in 2011.
At forty-six and now retired from hockey, Chara has turned his sights on endurance training and racing. He ran the Boston and New York City Marathons this year (finishing New York in 3:19:19) and did his first triathlon in June. This weekend Chara is in Florida to compete at Clash Daytona, with his sights set on an age group win.
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“As a kid growing up I was a huge fan of cycling,” Chara said in an interview the day before his triathlon event in Daytona. “Running has always been a big part of the Eastern European hockey preparation. Those two sports have always been a big part of my growing up. Once I retired after my career, I stayed active and continued to run and continued to bike. I got to know a few people who brought be closer to the sport of marathon running and triathlons. I am so grateful for that because the community is so welcoming and so warm and so willing to help every time I have a question.”
Swimming has been a bit more of a challenge for the former hockey player, but he’s been working hard on his technique to be smoother in the water. Known for his hard work ethic as a hockey player, though, it’s hard to imagine he’s not working hard on that sport, too. Part of his inspiration to work so hard comes from a pair of triathlon legends, too.
“I met Rick and Dick (Hoyt) during the 2005 or 2006 hockey season and I was just blown away by their dedication and discipline,” Chara said. “What they did for the sport of triathlon to break barriers for paralyzed and handicapped people is just a huge inspiration. Any time I could I was always involved with the Hoyt’s foundation. I’ll continue to do that – I enjoy helping others, so that’s a no-brainer for me. I love it.”
Chara has used his racing as a way to raise money for the Hoyt Foundation.
Bike fit?
So does his height help him as a triathlete as much as it did when he played hockey?
“It’s a little bit different,” Chara laughed. “Fitting on a tri bike was a little bit challenging, but we found a bike – we were somehow able to fit me onto a Trek bike. Swimming, well, you have to try to use your length as an advantage and I’m trying to do that. I’ve obviously dropped a lot of weight from my playing days (to help with his running) and now we’re trying to figure out the comfortable weight for doing that so I don’t deplete too soon and lose energy.”
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After his 3:19 marathon, Chara has certainly proved that he’s no slouch as an endurance athlete, and now he’s looking forward to taking on a new challenge. Despite the fact that he’s played at more than a few huge venues during  his historic career, he’s impressed with Daytona International Speedway, the site of the Clash event.
“It’s going to be epic – I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “Looking around at the venue, it’s such an incredible environment. It’s amazing – I can’t wait to be part of it.”
