oanna turned pro in 1998 after being voted 1997 Amateur Triathlete of the Year. As one of the more versatile triathletes in the world, she excels at both the longer Ironman distance races (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run) and the shorter Olympic distance (.93 mile swim, 24.8 mile bike, 6.2 mile run).
In 2000 Joanna won Triathlete of the Year honors for her 4th place finish in the Olympics in Sydney, 5th place finish 6 weeks later at the Hawaii Ironman Championship, and a USA Pro Champion victory. In 2001 Joanna was bronze medalist at the ITU World Championship in Edmonton. She has been a multiple winner at St. Croix, Mrs. T’s, and Buffalo Springs. Overcoming near career ending chronic back injuries in 2004, Joanna placed 2nd at Ironman Canada and at ITU World Cup Cancun. Now fully recovered, Joanna relishes competing in 2005 at world class levels at the Olympic distance.
