NATASHA VAN DER MERWE is a seasoned endurance coach and former professional triathlete, competing at the highest level from 2010 to 2023. Prior to that Natasha was also a professional tennis player and Head tennis coach for Riverplace Country Club. With over a decade of experience coaching athletes of all levels, Natasha is known for her hands-on, detail-oriented approach to training and racing.

Since 2009, she has worked with now over a thousand athletes, both in-person and online, delivering expert guidance across every aspect of the sport—from detail orientated training plans to advanced swim, bike, and run technique, and race-specific fueling strategies.

Before founding NVDM Coaching, Natasha led Camps and Clinics for Bicycle World and served as Director at Austin Aquatics and Sports Academy, where she built one of the largest triathlon teams in the country within its first year. She also built, ran for 5 years then sold a bike transport company, helping athletes get their bikes safely to triathlon events.

She is currently the Director of Endurance Sports Nutrition for Raw Nutrition, a large US based supplement company. She has not only helped create the endurance line of products but has spearheaded the entry into the Endurance market, positioning the product as a major player in the space through marketing and strategic partnerships. She is also the technical advisor and spokesperson for Sailfish, a wetsuit and swim gear company, and a spokesperson for Ironman, helping lead a global initiative to bring more women into the sport of triathlon.

She has coached numerous professional triathletes such as Jackie Hering—the Ironman American Record Holder, a 3-time Ironman Champion, 7-time 70.3 Champion, and 4-time Snowshoe National Champion—and currently coaches Alice Alberts, a 2-time Ironman Champion, and Lydia Russell a multiple Ironman 70.3 Champion along with multiple AG Ironman Champions. Her client roster also includes many high-level CEOs and public figures, showcasing her ability to tailor coaching for busy, high-performing individuals.

Her results speak for themselves, with over 1,000 athletes coached and an exceptional record of success at every level of the sport.

Coaching Achievements:

• Coaches 2x Ironman Champion Alice Alberts

• Coaches Ironman 70.3 Champion Lydia Russell

• Coached Jackie Hering: Ironman American Record Holder, 3x Ironman Champion, 7x 70.3 Champion

• Coached and currently coaches multiple professional athletes

• Is known for helping many triathletes earn their professional license in a very short time frame

• More than 400 athletes qualified for World Championship events across Ironman, 70.3, and Olympic distances

• 200+ athletes qualified for the Ironman World Championship in Kona

• 400+ qualified for the 70.3 World Championship

• Has helped multiple Age group athletes take the Overall and AG Wins at Ironman and 70.3 events

• Had has multiple athletes achieve Ironman and 70.3 wins in their first year in the sport

• Supported a blind athlete on their path to the 2016 Paralympics

Professional Achievements:

• Professional Triathlete since 2010

• Ironman PR of 9:25

• 70.3 PR of 4:23

• Olympic distance PR of 2:07

• 3rd at Challenge Atlantic City

• Multiple Top 10 finishes at Ironman and 70.3 Events

• Multiple Wins of Local Austin triathlons such as the Cap Tex Tri and the Rookie Tri.

• Number 1 ranked triathlete in the SouthMidwest Region in her first year of triathlon.