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KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) A year ago, Tate Matte had never swam the length of a pool. Next month, he’ll dive into the Mediterranean Sea as one of the world’s top young endurance athletes.
The 22-year-old Keene native has qualified for the Ironman World Championships in Nice, France, after placing 16th in his age group at the notoriously demanding Lake Placid Ironman triathlon in New York in late July. That finish came less than 12 months after he first decided to pursue triathlon training—without any prior experience in swimming or cycling.
The Ironman triathlon, known as one of the most grueling single-day sporting events in the world, includes a 2.4-mile open water swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a full 26.2-mile marathon —all completed consecutively.
Matte was a guest last week on Good Morning with Dan Mitchell on WKBK Radio and also sat down with My Keene Now to talk about his whirlwind journey from novice to world-stage competitor.
“My goal was to do a full Ironman,” Matte said. “It was about everything I could have asked for out of the weekend.”
That weekend—the Lake Placid Ironman—ended with Matte crossing the finish line in 10 hours and 49 minutes. He shared the moment with his parents and friends, calling it one of the most special of his life.
But the road to Lake Placid was anything but easy. Matte began training last summer after being inspired by a video of an Ironman finisher online. At the time, he had no background in endurance sports and described himself as a former high school and college basketball player. He’d never swum competitively or cycled for distance, and running had only recently become a personal interest.
His first attempt in the triathlon world came in the form of half-Ironman races, first in California last December and then in Galveston, Texas, in April. By July, he was ready to take on the full Ironman distance.
In addition to his training, Matte also runs a landscaping and excavation company, TNX Land Management, with business partner Nate Gryczka. Balancing long workdays with a demanding training schedule—often more than 20 hours a week—has required intense commitment. His weekly regimen includes swimming three to four times, biking up to 200 miles, and running as much as 40 miles. He consumes 4,000 to 5,000 calories daily to keep up.
“It’s tough on top of work, but I love doing it,” he said.
During races, Matte fuels with a steady intake of liquids, gels, pickle juice, and even Coca-Cola—sometimes taking in 90 grams of carbohydrates per hour to avoid burnout.
His next big challenge—the Ironman World Championship on Sept. 14—will not only be his second full Ironman but also his first time leaving the country. Matte recently acquired his passport and is now seeking sponsors and donors to help fund the international trip.
“I haven’t even said ‘I’m an Ironman’ out loud to somebody yet,” he said with a laugh. “Not many people get to say that.”
Matte has begun documenting his training journey on Instagram and TikTok and hopes to inspire others while building connections with potential sponsors. He says he’s eager to share every part of the upcoming France experience — from the start line to the finish chute and everything in between.
“I saw someone cross that Ironman finish line, and I thought, ‘That’s the coolest thing I’ve ever seen,’” he said.
Now, it’s his turn.