Athletic Achievements

World Championship Events

  • Twice named to the Gold IRONMAN All World Athlete.  Race performances in 2013 and 2014  earned a place in the Top 1% in the world in my age group for IRONMAN 70.3.

  • Ironman 70.3 World Championship - 2014 (Mt. Tremblant, Can)
    Ironman 70.3 World Championship - 14th in Age Group, 2013 (Las Vegas, NV)

  • Ironman 70.3 World Championship - Qualifier, 2007 (Clearwater, Fl)

  • ITU Canberra Long Distance Triathlon World Championships - 9th in Age Group and 3rd US Female, 2006 (Canberra, Australia)

    • Note: 11th in World & 8th in USA in Final Ironman 70.3 Ranking

  Triathlon Age Group Wins

  • Racine 70.3 Ironman, 2014 (Racine, Wi)

    Branson 70.3 Ironman, 2012 (Branson, MO)

  • Lake Geneva Triathlon Series ½ Ironman, 2011 (Lake Geneva, WI)

  • Tri One 0 One (1.86 mi swim, 80.6 bike, 18.6 run), 2007 (Clearlake, CA)

  • Accenture Chicago Olympic Distance Triathlon, 2006 (Chicago, Il)

  • US Half Championships, 2005 (Kansas City, MO)

  Additional Accomplishments
 
  • Racine 70.3 - ½ Ironman - 3rd in Age Group, 2013 (Racine, Wi)

  • Kansas 70.3 ½ Ironman - 3rd in Age Group, 2013 (Lawrence, KS)

  • Gainesville 5 Points of Life ½ Marathon - 4th Overall female (1:31:31 - Personal Record), 2013 (Gainesville, FL)

  • 15k Hot Chocolate Run -  2nd in Age group, 2012 (Chicago, IL)

  • Disney Princess ½ Marathon - 2nd in Age group, 2011 (Walt Disney World Resort, FL)

  • Madison ½ Marathon - 1st in Age Group, 2008 & 2014  

  • USA Triathlon All-American Status -  2006, 2013 

  • Ironman Wisconsin - Competitor, 2004 (Madison, WI)

  • Disney ½ Marathon - Masters Champion, 2006 (Walt Disney World Resort, FL)

  • Spirit of Racine 1/2 Ironman - 2nd in Age Group (4:54:38 - Sub 5 hour 70.3 performance), 2007 (Racine, WI)

  • 27 Triathlons Races Overall - 1 Ironman, 2 Long Distance Triathlons, 10 ½ Ironman, 8 Olympic Distance, 6 Sprint Races

National Team/Collegiate/High School

National Rowing Team Achievements

  • Inducted in the Rowing Hall of Fame, 1996

  • Honored at Rowing Hall of Fame, 1997

  • US National Rowing Team member 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988

  • Women’s Lightweight 4 - World Champion, 1986 (Nottingham, England)

  • Women’s Lightweight 4 - World Champion, 1987 (Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • United States Olympic Committee “Sportswoman of the Year,” 1987 (honored at White House with 84 other USOC amateur athletes)

  • Nominee for the Sullivan Award, 1987 (honoring the top amateur athlete in the nation)

  • International Regatta - Gold Medalists

*Canadian Henley (Open Women’s 8 and Lightweight women’s 8) - Two Gold Medals, 1983 (St.Catherines, Canada)

*Lightweight 8+ at Jr. and Lightweight World Championships - Gold Medalist, 1984 (Montreal, Canada)  

Collegiate Rowing Achievements

  • National Championships - Silver Medalists, 1982, 1984, 1985

  • Eastern Sprint, Gold Medalists, 1982, 1984

  • Was honored twice by alma mater for contributions to rowing at the University of Wisconsin

  • In 1987 the "Mandi Kowal Award" was created to honor the varsity lightweight athlete who contributes the most to the success of her crew by demonstrating a high level of performance, desire and excellence.

  • In 1999 a racing 8 was named the "Mandi Kowal"

  High School Athletic Achievements

  • Multi-Sport Athlete throughout high school – Volleyball, Basketball, Track, Softball

  • Most talented High School Athlete, 1981 (First time this award was ever been given to a female)

  • Basketball Conference Champions

  • Track Conference Champion in several events (ex. 400m and 800m)

  • Three year Wisconsin Track State Championship Participant in 400m and 800m