Welcome to Andrea Ratkovic's website!

Andrea is affectionately referred to as "Rat" by her closest friends and competitors.  She acquired this name in junior high when her track coach had a hard time pronouncing her last name during roll call.  Hence, it was shortened to "Rat."

Andrea was born in Chicago, Illinois on February 25, 1966.  She moved to Corpus Christi, Texas when she was 6 and attended Flour Bluff schools.  Andrea was involved with running, skateboarding, and swimming.  She first realized her running potential when she beat everyone in the 600 yd. dash for the Presidential Fitness Award patch in the 6th grade.  She joined the track team in junior high and high school and eventually went on to receive a scholarship to Texas A&M University-Kingsville after being injured most of her senior year.

 

When Texas A&M University-Kingsville dropped the track program 2 years later, colleges and universities immediately flew in trying to entice Andrea to come to their school.  She ended up going to the University of Oklahoma on a full scholarship. 

 

Andrea ruptured her Achilles tendon during her last year and was told she would never be able to run at the elite level again.  She didn't run for years.  When she came back she did so with a vengeance.  In her first marathon, Andrea missed the Olympic Trials qualifying time by one minute.  Six months later she was ranked #2 in the U.S. with a time of 2:34:20.  She attended the Olympic Trials in 1996 but was forced to drop out due to a severe bout with food poisoning.  After the Trials Andrea escaped to the mountains of Mosca, Colorado, where she again ruptured her Achilles tendon and required a second surgery.  Andrea then got involved with cycling as rehabilitation to her running and ended up having an illustrious cycling career which still extends into present time having competed in 2 Olympic Trials and numerous other races. 

 

Andrea was always trying to get back into running and subsequently became interested in duathlons.  In her first year, she was crowned U.S. Pro Duathlon Champion.  During that year, also, she broke her back in a bike race and started swimming.  It was then that she decided to try triathlons.  She has since placed 5th in the world in long-course duathlon, was voted Rookie and Elite Duathlete of the Year, and has placed 6th and 4th in her only 2 Half-Ironmans.  Andrea has constantly battled problems with her Achilles and hopes to become an accomplished Ironman athlete in addition to returning to the running scene. 

 

Andrea loves to travel and to meet people.  People are always asking her for training and nutritional advice which she dispenses freely.  She'll stop and engage in a conversation with anyone wanting to chat.  She believes that we need to quit being afraid to love and we need to love each other more.

 

Here is one of Andrea's favorite quotes: