Search
shop

Chelsea Sodaro breaks down the passion paradox and going all in on professional triathlon

Chelsea Sodaro on the passion paradox and going all in on elite sport.
Staff Reporter
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

Chelsea Sodaro made waves last year when seemingly against the odds, the American upset a number of established names and claimed the IRONMAN World Championship title in Kona with a breakthrough performance on the Big Island.

Up until that point, the PTO World #11 had never even won a full distance event and did so on her debut at perhaps one of the hardest races in the world, as she beat the likes of Lucy Charles-Barclay and Anne Haug by more than seven minutes.

In a recent podcast with Rich Roll, Sodaro shared how being able to go all in on professional triathlon has been a game changer, something that has only been possible thanks to the support of her coach and the team around her.

Advertisement

“We are on the razor edge of trying to achieve things”

Discussing the power of going in and turning against the conventional ideals of a balanced life, Sodaro shared the difficulty of foregoing traditional career paths and investing all of her energy into the pursuit of excellence in sport, something many people can’t understand.

chelsea-sodaro-kona-2022-run
(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images for IRONMAN)

“I struggle with all of these things [ideas of a balanced life] so much because the life my little family lives is so extreme, we are on the razor edge of trying to achieve things, but so much of it is who you surround yourself with and then accepting you as you are.

“We have felt from our parents, our families who love us, that it’s a totally different path that we have chosen and we are not risk averse, we are not afraid to make bold choices and go all in on these crazy dreams.

“I feel so lucky because there is no guarantee that it will all work out, but in so many ways that win in Kona last year validated all these crazy choices and that career path that I’ve been on.

“We have also been really lucky to have people in our lives like my coach Dan Plews who has championed this approach and allowed for us to go all in on it.” 

Tomos Land
Written by
Tomos Land
Tomos Land is a triathlon & running journalist whose expertise lies in the professional world of short course & long distance triathlon, though he also boasts an extensive knowledge of ultra-running.
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...