Canadian triathlon star Tamara Jewett got her 2025 season off on the right foot by finishing fourth at IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside – a stark contrast to what happened at the same event 12 months earlier.

The 34-year-old produced a race-leading 1:17:00 run split following a solid swim and bike in the Californian sunshine. Compatriot Paula Findlay took the tape in a time of 4:16:50 – just over four minutes ahead of the fast-finishing Jewett.

But following a disappointing DNF at the race in 2024, one of two DNFs to start her season, Jewett insisted on taking the positives from the race and admitted she had defeated a few “ghosts” on her way to a top-five finish.

Jewett beats the ghosts

After a stellar 2023 season that produced two victories – including a win at Oceanside – and three other podium performances, 2024 was somewhat of a campaign to forget with just one top-five finish and a quartet of DNFs in 10 scheduled appearances.

With that it mind, there was some obvious trepidation for Tamara heading into last weekend’s California race, but the Canadian fought the so-called “ghosts” head on.

Writing in a post on her Instagram account, she said: “Fourth at 70.3 Oceanside today and solidly proud of myself. I raced my goal of enjoying little battles where I could, appreciating the course and environment and easing into the season with a steady start.

“I had to face the ghosts of last year’s emotionally rough and raw start (okay, devastating start – I hate that word but it kind of was! It was a devastating first two races in 2024 😝) to the season head on.

“Even being in a great place right now mentally, emotionally and physically – and particularly the week leading into this race – that was hard. And I won against all those darn ghosts.

“Parts of my swim, bike and run were great, parts were a little rough. I had an unusual headache throughout the start of the run despite nailing my nutrition (🤔 will need to try to figure that one out). And still, I solidly stayed calm, carried on, and came down like a mighty sledgehammer in the last three miles to run my way to fourth.”

“I was not asking myself for more than that today. Particular thanks to @kaidikivioja for another great battle and particular congrats to former-teammate @lisabecharas for her absolutely stellar bike performance.”