Search
shop

#GBKona 2017: Sophie Bubb aims for “a lot quicker than last year”

Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Tomorrow, Sophie Bubb, a 36-year-old mum of two pre-school boys, will ‘toe the line’ in Kona, Hawaii, at the IRONMAN World Championship. If you include the three major long distance triathlon championships she has raced, this will be Sophie’s eighth Iron distance event in just over two years. Throughout this period she has shown incredible consistency, finishing on the podium at six of the seven events completed so far, with Kona 2016 being the only ‘miss’.

Along the way she has racked up two Ironman UK amateur titles, two ITU World Championship medals (2nd & 3rd amateur overall) and just six months after her second son was born, finished first amateur at the 2015 ETU European Long Distance Triathlon Championships.

Sophie Bubb

It’s been an incredible few years and Sophie is not done yet. When questioned about her chances of hitting the podium at the ‘big dance’ Sophie said: “Kona is just a whole different world – last year I put up a pretty decent fight without any shockers but still came away 30-something in my age-group and well over an hour behind the leaders. I’d be in dreamland if I thought one year of hard work was going to turn that around but, nevertheless, I’m happy with my form and am confident of going an awful lot quicker than last year, so we’ll just have to see. Realistically, I’m still very inexperienced at this level and a top 15 (or anything close) would be a fabulous return.”

Sophie Bubb

Sophie has used her commercial acumen to great effect to further her sporting ambitions and is backed by a fabulous sponsor and whole roster of technical partners. Z Hotels (http://www.thezhotels.com/) boast affordable, compact luxury in prime locations around central London, Liverpool and Glasgow. They have sponsored Sophie for over a year now and love their involvement in the sport and the story.

Alongside their financial backing and that of the Beaulieu Beaufort Foundation, Sophie has also received huge support from manufactures within the industry and companies local to her New Forest home. “Without Z Hotels I would certainly not be racing overseas and the support I’ve received from my technical partners has allowed me to race on similar kit to the Pros. You certainly can’t hope to get close the gap to them if you are on inferior kit!”

Sophie Bubb

Regularly finishing ahead of Pros but not quite achieving the strict British Triathlon criteria to gain a pro licence has been a common feature for Sophie but like so many amateurs, she is very happy to continue to race in the age-group categories. “I suppose the idea of racing as a Pro sounds pretty glamorous and obviously I’d like to be good enough to make the grade but realistically, being relatively new to the sport with two little boys at home and a whole bunch of ‘real world’ daily family challenges to deal with, this is not something I’m shooting for. Like many top amateurs, I prefer racing on a more level playing field in the age-group ranks.”

Sophie Bubb

Looking ahead, after many late hours studying, Sophie is now a level two triathlon coach and is hoping to combine her racing and life at home with her boys, with working as a swim coach this winter and gradually starting to help amateur triathletes looking to up their game. “I’ve still got masses to learn as an athlete and a coach but have a feeling that for many people new to sport, identifying with a half decent amateur is much easier than getting advice from Pros, who don’t often don’t face quite the same challenges.”

Sophie Bubb

Sophie also had a few words on the Pros out  in Kona and was quick to mention the current strength in-depth in British long distance triathlon. “There is incredible British female talent around at the moment with nearly 20 per cent of the pro female field in Kona being made up of Brits and while it’s hard to look past multiple Ironman World Champion Daniela Ryf for the win, any slip ups and there will be a real gang of British girls bearing down on her.”

#GBKona coverage 2017

John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
Discover more
TRI247 podcast p/b Challenge Family episode 2
Go behind the scenes at Challenge Roth with the latest episode of the TRI247 podcast
Cadomotus Chronos triathlon cycling shoes
The triathlon cycling shoe that promises a 10-watt saving: Cadomotus Chronos Aero triathlon cycling shoes review
Challenge Family Roth
Five things you need to know about the Challenge Roth bike course
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
latest News
ironman hamburg 2025 podium laura philipp kat matthews solveig lovseth beer
Challenge Roth 2025: Laura Philipp backed to make triathlon history by crashing through magical time barrier
Challenge Roth press conference 2025
Challenge Roth 2025: Date, start times, how to watch live and who’s racing
Georgia Taylor Brown wins supertri Toulouse 2024
British Olympic legend Georgia Taylor-Brown to make triathlon return
Gwen Jorgensen reflective World Triathlon Cup Vina del Mer 2023
‘Unbreakable’ Gwen Jorgensen ‘bruised’ after bike crash but vows to bounce back
IRONMAN CEO Scott DeRue Women For Tri 2024
IRONMAN announce new age-group qualification system for Kona and 70.3 Worlds
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...