Search
shop

‘Mind Blown’ – Chelsea Sodaro on how family helped her to Kona glory

"The culmination of things being right in my life", helped BMC Pro Triathlon Team's Chelsea Sodaro to IRONMAN World Championship glory
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

What a day, what a performance.

The USA’s Chelsea Sodaro – in only her second start over the distance – upset the odds (and made most pre-race predictions, mine included, redundant!), with a brilliant all-round display to become the 2022 IRONMAN World Champion in Kailua-Kona on Thursday.

It was also the first time the colours of the BMC Pro Triathlon Team have topped the podium at the IRONMAN World Championship, achieving the goal they have been targeting for a decade. That performance also sees her become the first female Kona debutant to take the win in Hawaii since Chrissie Wellington in 2007.

Advertisement

The greatest gift

Shortly after crossing the famous finish line on Ali’i Drive almost eight minutes clear of Great Britain’s Lucy Charles-Barclay, Sodaro was full of praise for those behind the scenes that were key in her stunning success. Her young daughter, Skylar, was there to welcome her.

“My mind is a little bit blown right now. You know, I think this is a culmination of things being right in my life, and having perspective. This is fricking incredible, but the greatest gift at the end at the finish line is my little 18-month-old.

“This is a real family operation. I don’t have a super big, flashy team around me, but I have an incredible team. My Dad has SAG’ed [Ed. Support and Gear] every single ride the last month and my Mom has taken care of my daughter because childcare has been really hard to find.

“My husband is a Reno firefighter and making this work is just really freaking hard – so this is for them.”

Chelsea Sodaro IRONMAN World Championship 2022 finish
Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images for IRONMAN

“This is incredible. This is a life highlight, I will never forget this. I’m pretty stoked that I think I get to take the rest of the year off and be a Mom for a month or so.”

World champion – but coach is still faster!

Athletes always set goals and want to achieve more, and Sodaro heaped praise on her coach, despite not managing to beat his time.

“I didn’t allow myself to think about winning this race until I got to the top of Palani. Today was all about executing my plan and my process.

Chelsea Sodaro / Lucy Charles-Barclay - IRONMAN World Championship 2022
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images for IRONMAN

“My coach, Dan Plews of EndureIQ, is absolutely brilliant. He’s actually the amateur course record holder here – and I did NOT beat his record (!), but anyway, I have the most amazing people around me and this is for them.”

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
Challenge The Championship Marjolaine Pieree
How to qualify for Challenge The Championship – and why it should be on your triathlon bucket list
Cadomotus aero triathlon cycling shoes
Can your triathlon cycling shoes make you faster? How shoe choice could speed up your triathlon finish times
French Riviera T100 bike course Esterel
Is this the ultimate middle distance triathlon bike course? We rode the French Riviera T100 bike course and it’s EPIC
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
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!)
latest News
Lionel Sanders wins 70.3 St George 2025 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
Triathlon superstar Lionel Sanders says he went to a “dark place” to fuel his latest IRONMAN win
The PTO's CEO Sam Renouf
PTO reveal ambitions of matching Roth and Kona as French Riviera T100 triathlon course details unveiled
Sam Long St George 2024 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
‘No No No’ – Sam Long says he felt ROBBED by swim cancellation at ‘69.1 Chattanooga’
IRONMAN World Championship 2024 Nice Age Group Swim Start
IRONMAN to review World Championship slot allocation model after fears raised for Age Group women
Jonny Brownlee / Jonathan Brownlee - Super League Triathlon London 2023
Did the Brownlee brothers nearly join pro cycling’s Team Sky after 2012 Olympic heroics?
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...