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
Dave Ellis / Luke Pollard - World Para Triathlon Championships Pontevedra 2023
Golden opportunity – British Triathlon launches search for LA2028 paratriathlon guides
IRONMAN Lanzarote 2024 - Anne Haug on run course
Best marathon shoes for Ironman – the ‘legal’ super shoes you CAN wear to level up your run split
Challenge Sanremo 2024 - Photo: Jose Luis Hourcade
How to fuel your triathlon training: Expert nutritionist tips to help you nail every session
swim start IRONMAN World Championship Kona 2024 photo credit Tony Svensson IRONMAN
Level up your Ironman swim split – must-read tips from an expert swim coach
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
latest News
Taylor Knibb 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Taupo New Zealand
US triathlon phenom Taylor Knibb hails great rival Kat Matthews for record-breaking IRONMAN Texas win
Richard Varga Jonny Brownlee Arzachena
Triathlon legend Jonny Brownlee reveals ‘Last Dance’ motivation behind latest challenge
IRONMAN Kona 2022 Age Group Results
How will “re-imagined” IRONMAN World Championship at Kona actually look for Age Groupers?
Lucy Charles-Barclay IRONMAN World Championship Kona 2023 Finish
IRONMAN World Championship goes ALL IN on Kona again with men and women to race on same day from 2026
Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews on the run at the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship
Nice gets consolation prize of 70.3 Worlds after IRONMAN World Championships return to Kona
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...