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.

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
Laura Siddall Challenge Roth 2025 finish line
PremiumLaura Siddall: 10 things I’ve learned from my professional triathlon career
Ruth Astle finishing IRONMAN Vitoria 2024
PremiumHow to cope with a DNF: Elite athletes share their stories
PremiumIs your evening workout routine wrecking your recovery? Expert physiologist on how to improve recovery and what NOT to do
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumTriathlon’s mid-season report card: Tim Don on who’s raising the bar this triathlon race season
03/07/2025 - Tour de France 2025 - Grand départ Jour 2 - Lille - Présentation des équipes -Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike)
PremiumWhat triathletes can learn from the Tour de France pro peloton
latest News
Alex Yee wins Super tri Toronto 2025
Supertri Toronto 2025 men’s results: Stunning triathlon return from Olympic champ Alex Yee
Jolien Vermeylen wins Supertri Toronto 2025
Supertri Toronto 2025 women’s results: Jolien Vermeylen stuns big guns for famous DEBUT win
Alex Yee supertri Neom 2024 win Photo credit: Darren Wheeler | supertri
WATCH AGAIN: Supertri Toronto 2025 as Brownlee Racing make a PERFECT start
Sam Long wins IRONMAN 703 Gulf Coast 2023 [Photo credit: Julio Aguilar / Getty Images for IRONMAN]
Sam Long opens up on US triathlon stars struggling in Europe after big move brought ‘complete mental breakdown’
lionel sanders wins oceanside 2024 [Photo credit: Donald Miralle / IRONMAN]
Lionel Sanders pinpoints the BIGGEST difference from Mark Allen era of triathlon
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

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...