IRONMAN Kona: Lucy Charles-Barclay on her epic journey from ‘novice’ age-grouper to title contender

Back in 2015 when she raced – and won – as an age-grouper, Lucy Charles-Barclay was inspired on a triathlon journey that has seen her become a 70.3 World Champion and finish runner-up on no fewer than four occasions in Kona.

And returning to the Big Island for the IRONMAN World Championship this year, things have almost come full circle. She may have only just turned 30 but it’s now her – and many of the other star names on a packed start list – who the next generation are looking up to.

That’s a role she relishes too and she feels that this year offers an added opportunity, given that 2023 is the first time the women’s race will have 100% of the spotlight in Kona, following the location split which saw the men lock horns in Nice last month, a process which will rotate for at least four years.

LCB on broadening the reach

Reflecting on that initial visit in 2015, the current world #4 told us: “I first came here as an age grouper and it was completely magical.

“I still remember it like it was yesterday, sharing a house with Lucy Gossage and Joe Skipper, who were like my idols at the time [click here to read her blog from eight years ago!].

“I won my age group back then in the 18 to 24 category. I think every year I’ve loved coming back and I’ve had amazing races and experiences.”

She’s one of triathlon’s most-recognised faces on social media and YouTube, helping to take the sport to a wider audience and she said of that: “I’ve always enjoyed kind of just sharing my journey and just trying to inspire more and more young athletes, particularly girls and women, to get into the sport because it is such an amazing sport. It’s definitely a very inclusive sport.

And not always just sharing the highs and the great times, but also showing how hard it is coming back from injury and those kind of things as well.

“So hopefully when people are struggling, we’re able to share that you can get through that as well.”

‘You’ve just got to stay dedicated’

Lucy and husband Reece also immerse themselves in the coaching side and imparting their wisdom to others, another aspect she clearly enjoys: “Yeah, definitely. We’ve got a good few athletes, obviously, on our Kollektiv platform that are racing. We’ve also got some athletes that were on my LCB race team that we still coach who are racing as well.

“So it’s amazing to have a wider community that we’re inspiring and that are really pushing the boundaries and actually making it to the World Championships to come and race.

“I feel like we’re having a really great impact on those people and where we can sharing our best advice of obviously how to tackle the conditions here and kind of preparing for the heat before they actually arrive on the island.

“It’s really nice to be able to give back to a community that has supported me over the years from being an age grouper that really was a complete novice as well, to get into the top level in the pro field.

I hope that I can kind of share that actually anyone can do it or anyone can push themselves to achieve those big goals.

“You’ve just got to stay dedicated and try and enjoy it and have fun, which isn’t always easy when you’re doing hours and hours of training, but I think you do get the most from yourself when you’re having fun and enjoying the process.”