Lionel Sanders follows ‘lifelong dream’ in PTO vs IRONMAN Series decision for 2024 season

Lionel Sanders has said that chasing his lifelong dream and inspiring his infant son have helped guide his decision in determining whether he should commit to the PTO Tour or IRONMAN Pro Series in 2024.

The Canadian star, who hasn’t raced a full distance event since October 2022, discussed his decision making process in detail on his YouTube channel as he finalised plans for next year and shared his rationale.

As one of the most popular figures in the triathlon community, his commitment to a race series will likely be a welcome boost to his chosen organisation as the PTO and IRONMAN prepare to go head-to-head in what will be one of triathlon’s biggest years yet.

“Nothing in this life is guaranteed”

Famous for wearing his heart on his sleeve throughout his triathlon career, Sanders was typically candid in his video explaining how he made his decision, revealing that thanks to the support he now enjoys he can freely make the choice based on what best suits him.

“Thanks to a number of great sponsors who support me, I think I have the freedom to make the decision more about what’s best for me and less about how do I put food on the table. From my standpoint, I think either pathway that I choose to take would be excellent for development and excellent for the mind.”

Full of plaudits for what the PTO have built, Sanders credited the organisation’s marketing and media. However, with the clock on his career ticking, the Canadian underlined how he had to follow what he is most passionate about.

“The PTO series had amazing marketing and amazing media, and the series highlights every one of my weaknesses, which isn’t a pro from a winning standpoint but is from a development standpoint.

“The main con is that I will be 36 years old when that series starts and I don’t have a ton of time left, nothing in this life is guaranteed, nothing in this career is guaranteed and I don’t have much time left.

“My motivation to do the PTO series would be personal development. What would be the motivation to do the IRONMAN series? It would be to achieve my life dream and to continue to pursue that and set an example for my little boy to pursue your dreams even when all the doors seem shut.” 

“Motivation is a huge piece of the puzzle”

Drawing on what ignited his passion for the sport, and what keeps him going to this day, Sanders said that after two second place finishes at the IRONMAN World Championship, the thought of winning the elusive title in Kona is something that eats at him deep inside.

“My passion is most definitely Ironman. When I googled triathlon, I googled Ironman in 2009 and a picture of Craig Alexander holding the Kona tape that year is what inspired me to do triathlon.

“I know one thing that I have learnt over the years is that motivation is a huge piece of the puzzle and you really have to have your motivation right. That’s something I really have to think about.

I know what it takes to lead the IRONMAN World Championships and I know what it takes to fail with three miles to go to achieve my lifetime goal.”

Addressing his shift to the middle distance last season, Sanders recounted the heartbreak of walking the marathon in Kona last October and said that despite the pain that experience caused, going back to Kona to try chase his dream is what he now plans to go all in on.

“I think I got greatly discouraged and gave up on my dream, but my dream still deep down inside is Kona. It’s a tough decision for sure, because I don’t have a ton of time to mess around and when I make the decision, I have to be all in. There’s no capacity to turn back.”