Search
shop

Onwards and upwards for Charles-Barclay after winning return

British star will speak to her team and then set the goals for the coming months following successful comeback
News Director
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Lucy Charles-Barclay hopes “the sky is the limit” following her welcome return from injury on Sunday.

The IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion bounced back in style from an extended spell on the sidelines due to a hip stress fracture as she was crowned the World Triathlon Long Distance Champion in Šamorín.

She finished over three minutes in front of fellow Brit Emma Pallant-Browne and was understandably emotional when she spoke to World Triathlon afterwards.

Advertisement

Confidence boost

Lucy Charles Barclay Samorin 2022 photo credit Petko Beier World Triathlon
[Photo credit: Petko Beier / World Triathlon]

She said: “I just can’t believe it! I obviously wanted to come back and race and didn’t know exactly where I was training-wise.

“I had been going pretty well but you never really know until you get out there. I knew I had to dig deep with Emma behind me.

“I was really happy with the swim, it was non-wetsuit, it suited me, it was pretty choppy so I knew I could get a pretty good gap there and I went hard in the swim.

“I tried to go as fast as I could through T1 and get that gap and then ride pretty hard. We had a pretty strong tailwind on the way out and I wanted to save something for the way back. Even with my little hiccup on the turnaround, I was like, there’s a headwind on the way back, this is where it gets tough.

“And I didn’t know what the legs would have on the run, but I just had to believe in myself and go as hard as I could.”

Teamwork

Slovakia itself was the perfect venue for her return, as she explained: “I’ve won three races here over the years, including one early on which set me off with some confidence in my pro career.

“The sky is the limit really, I just didn’t expect that today, so to come back here and put it all together, it’s just really special.”

Looking ahead to the rest of the season she was non-committal on plans, saying: “I’ll go back, evaluate with my team, then we’ll set the goals for the coming months.

“I can’t thank my team enough, actually, for all the help they’ve given me throughout this injury.

“I don’t know what the future holds but I am going to keep striving and digging.”

Jonathan Turner
Written by
Jonathan Turner
Jonathan Turner is News Director for both TRI247 and RUN247, and is accustomed to big-name interviews, breaking news stories and providing unrivalled coverage for endurance sports.  
Discover more
TRI247 podcast p/b Challenge Family episode 2
Go behind the scenes at Challenge Roth with the latest episode of the TRI247 podcast
Cadomotus Chronos triathlon cycling shoes
The triathlon cycling shoe that promises a 10-watt saving: Cadomotus Chronos Aero triathlon cycling shoes review
Challenge Family Roth
Five things you need to know about the Challenge Roth bike course
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!)
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
latest News
Julie Derron wins T100 San Francisco 2025
Olympic medallist and T100 winner reveals she’s stepping up to full distance next
Sam Laidlow Challenge Roth press conference 2025
Challenge Roth 2025: Laidlow prompts groundbreaking move as Race Ranger data will be made public
Kat Matthews IRONMAN Texas Finish Line 2025
Kat Matthews and Magnus Ditlev top 70.3 Swansea fields as IRONMAN Pro Series heads to Wales
Kristian Blummenfelt Kristian Hogenhaug Casper Stornes IRONMAN Frankfurt 2025
Triathlon GOAT Mark Allen sends “great champions” message to red-hot superstar Kristian Blummenfelt
Zachary Josie bike
Age-group athlete with dwarfism says INCREDIBLE goal is “in his grasp” at Challenge Roth
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...