After more than two decades racing in the sport, Australian Sarah Crowley has announced her decision to step back from professional triathlon.

The 41-year-old, who hails from Adelaide in South Australia, is one of the country’s most decorated long course women, having twice finished on the podium at the IRONMAN World Championship.

In addition to her success in Hawaii, Crowley also clinched all three major Australian IRONMAN titles in 2022 and has more than 35 professional podiums to her name.

World Champs win and Australian Triple Crown

Having originally raced short course triathlon, before stepping back to focus on cycling and running and then returning to triathlon in 2012, Crowley has amassed a huge amount of race experience in her career.

During her best period as a professional, Crowley clinched the ITU Long Distance title in 2017, before going on to pick up her first podium in Kona behind Daniela Ryf and Lucy Charles-Barclay.

In 2018 and 2019, wins at IRONMAN Hamburg and IRONMAN Arizona sandwiched a second place finish behind Charles-Barclay at Challenge Roth and a second podium in Kona, with a whole host of other wins and podiums scattered in-between.

Most recently, Crowley made history in 2022 when she became the first person to win the Australian Triple Crown, triumphing at IRONMAN Australia in Port Macquarie, IRONMAN Cairns and finally IRONMAN Western Australia, all within a single season.

“To every little girl, you can do anything”

In an inspiring message posted alongside her retirement announcement, Crowley said that her career in sport allowed her to achieve things she had never thought possible.

“Today marks the end of a 22 year career racing elite triathlon. I have lived the dream for the last 8 years making amazing memories and meeting fantastic lifelong friends all over the world. This was made possible by the incredible support of my brands. 

“I grew up in Adelaide, South Australia, a small and remote city and I am blown away by the opportunities this world brings if you trely focus on what you want.

“To every little girl, you can do anything. I have a new and exciting opportunity that I can’t wait to share. As for now my body is sore and tired and ready for a rest and a party!”