The bad news is that she must fund the $7000 trip herself.
Hayes (25), a personal trainer at Moana Pool gymnasium, received automatic entry to the event when she won the 18 to 29 age group amateur section in last weekend's Challenge Wanaka.
It was her first ironman and her time of 11hr 6min was the fastest for a female amateur competitor.
The Challenge Roth is popular in Europe and it is difficult for southern hemisphere athletes to gain ntsaget an entry.
"I was thrilled to get free entry," said Hayes, who is planning her fundraising activities.
"I want to win my own age group in the race."
Rowing was Hayes' sport until she started Olympic-style triathlons five years ago.
She was coached by Sergio Salis at Queen's High School and at the Otago University Rowing Club.
Hayes won four Maadi Cup gold medals and two open-grade events at New Zealand championships in the senior and under 21 quadruple sculls.
She represented New Zealand Universities in the lightweight quadruple sculls in the transtasman series against Australia in 2003 but gave up the sport soon after to concentrate on university studies in physical education.
On graduation she sought a new challenge and tried the marathon but was sidelined by knee and hip problems.
She found triathlons less stressful on the body and excelled at short-distance triathlons and represented New Zealand in her age group at the World Olympic Distance Championships on the Gold Coast in 2009.
Hayes has adapted better to the ironman and won two of her five half-ironman events outright and won her age group in the other three.
But the full ironman in the difficult wind conditions at Wanaka last weekend was a greater challenge,.
Hayes proved she has the endurance to master the 3.8km swim, 180km cycle leg and the 42km marathon run.
She will have two weeks' recovery before starting training for the German event.
"I want to keep injury-free so most of my runs will be off-road and on tracks around the city," she said.
Cycling is her strongest discipline.
"Cycling most resembles rowing and there is a crossover of training," she said.
"I am reaping the benefits of the training I did on the water with Sergio Salis."
The Challenge Roth was first held in 1990 when the event was expanded to the full ironman distance.
It is limited to 2500 competitors.
The women's race was won in 2006 by Joanna Lawn (New Zealand) in 9hr 01min 17sec.
TAMSYN HAYES
- At a glance
• Age: 25.
• Education: Queens HS, Otago University School of Physical Education.
• Occupation: Personal trainer.
• Sports: Rowing and ironman.
RECORD
• Rowing: Four Maadi Cup wins, and two NZ open championship gold medals. Represented NZ Universities in transtasman series 2003.
• Ironman: Won two of her five half-ironman races; first in women's age 18 to 29 age group in Challenge Wanaka 2011.
