From 'man of glass' to Ironman
Guy de Wilde is finance interim recruiter at Robert Walters Eindhoven. Two years ago, he suffered a severe hernia. Guy saw his recovery as a chance for a new start. He embarked on an inspiring (read: gruelling) transformation into Iron Man.
'Two years ago, I underwent back surgery to remove a herniated disc. The recovery was tough. At the time, I described myself as a ‘man of glass’ - fragile and limited. I could barely move and even getting out of bed felt like a huge task. Slowly, with a lot of patience and perseverance, I began to rebuild my strength. Completing the Ironman - the world's most famous triathlon with 3.8km of swimming, 180km of cycling and a 42.2km marathon - seemed like an impossible dream.
Most people who know anything about triathlons advise against starting an Ironman because it really is quite intense. You need at least three years to get from basic fitness to Ironman level. But it can be done. So I enlisted a former Ironman world champion as a coach and plunged into a new world of zone training and heart rate measurement.
The Ironman is not just about physical endurance. You get to take 17 hours, and that's what makes it special for me. That you are thrown back on your mental strength for almost an entire day - pushing your limits. There's a link there with my work at Robert Walters. Some days you feel like you're swimming against the current. Discipline, focus and adaptability are essential, whether I'm refining my swimming technique or managing multiple recruitment processes. It's about breaking down big goals into smaller, achievable steps. Improving my endurance by a fraction today means I will continue tomorrow. Similarly, in recruitment, every small action contributes to a bigger picture: matching the right talent to the right team so that something great can emerge in an organisation.
Although the Ironman is an individual race, there is a strong sense of community. From fighting together during training to cheering on the other participants, it is a collective effort to all cross that finish line. The people who cross the finish line last may have had to fight the hardest for it. There again, I see a similarity with Robert Walters. You fight to achieve your own goals, but you only succeed with the support of your team. In the end, we do it together.
When I cross the finish line, it is the culmination of a journey that started with recovery and grew into something much bigger.
My goal for the Ironman is simple: finish. When I cross the finish line, it means not only the end of a race, but also the culmination of a journey that started with recovery and grew into something much bigger. An important chapter in my story, and a reminder that challenges - physical, mental or professional - are opportunities to grow stronger.
Guy will compete in IRONMAN in Austria. Follow his preparations via Strava.
Update 20 june 2025:
Even in the challenging conditions of 33 degrees, Guy crossed the finish line after 12 hours and 19 minutes. Guy, looking back: 'Along the way, I had to adjust, pace myself, push through pain, and sometimes reset. It was the hardest day of my life, but I would do it again.'
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