Advancing Life, One Finish Line at a Time

This fall, Advita Ortho’s Senior Product Development Engineer Andrea Gardner brought a lifelong dream to life: competing in the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. Known as the pinnacle of triathlon, Kona challenges athletes with a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and a full marathon. All in one day. For Andrea, reaching that starting line didn’t happen overnight. It was the culmination of years of commitment, curiosity, and steady growth in the sport. 

Her triathlon journey began back in 2007 after watching teammates complete the full distance and becoming inspired by the community around the sport. In 2024, a strong finish at Ironman Chattanooga earned her a coveted Kona qualification, making the decision to register a no-brainer. 

From there, training became a careful balancing act. Weeks filled with early-morning swims, lunchbreak runs, and long weekend rides slowly built her endurance from 10–15 hours per week to nearly 20 as race day approached. Swimming was her most challenging discipline, but joining the SWAG Masters group helped transform it into both a technical breakthrough and a source of camaraderie.  

Balancing training with family commitments proved to be the most difficult feat. “Adjusting my plan around kids’ sporting events or family activities was the hardest part,” she admitted. 

Race day delivered its own surprises. Dehydration and fatigue hit harder than expected during the marathon, but Andrea leaned on grit, perspective, and Kona’s famously supportive volunteers. “I reminded myself I was racing my dream race, and everyone else was probably feeling just as bad,” she joked. That mindset carried her across the finish line. 

And that moment became more than a race. As an Advita Ortho knee engineer focused on improving mobility, Andrea felt the finish line transform into a different meaning. “It symbolized years of hard work, dedication, and discipline paying off,” she reflected. The same perseverance she brings to solving complex engineering challenges showed up mile after mile during the race.  

For anyone curious about triathlon, Andrea’s advice is simple: start small. Local sprint races, Gainesville’s active tri community, and youth programs, including the Alachua County Youth Triathlon Club she co-founded, offer welcoming paths into the sport for athletes of every age. At Kona, after all, the oldest finisher was 80. 

Andrea’s story is a reminder that big dreams don’t have deadlines; and with community and dedication, even the toughest starting lines become possible to reach. 

Inspired by Andrea’s story?
Learn how you can join a team that values passion and perseverance. Explore Careers at Advita.