There was a time when every race felt like the most important day of Sophie Evans‘ career.

Every result carried huge significance. Every start line brought pressure.

Now, a few months into her return to top-level triathlon after the birth of daughter Phoebe, the former WTCS winner says she has discovered something she never expected.

Freedom.

“I used to think triathlon was everything, the be all and end all,” Sophie told us when she sat down for an in-depth interview with TRI247.

“Don’t get me wrong, it still means an awful lot to me. I still want to do well, I still want to achieve things. I still put everything into training and racing. But I don’t have this kind of do or die mentality around it anymore.”

Altered mindset

The 31-year-old admits motherhood has fundamentally changed the way she approaches elite sport.

Where she once stood on start lines overwhelmed by pressure, she now finds herself simply grateful to be racing again.

“I used to get so nervous before races and used to put so much pressure on myself. Now having Phoebe, it’s definitely altered my mindset and altered my outlook on triathlon, but for the better.

“I can stand on the start line now being grateful and proud to be there after having a baby a year ago. I’m genuinely more excited to race rather than having this overwhelming feeling of fear and pressure.”

Evans laughs that, from the outside, it could almost sound as though she cares less about the sport. The reality, she insists, is the complete opposite.

Instead, she has found a healthier relationship with racing, one in which performances no longer define her happiness.

“The best way to describe it, it’s almost just made me feel a bit more free. Free in training and free in racing. And win or lose, I get to go back to the most precious thing that I own now.”

‘I’m enjoying it’

That new perspective has shaped every aspect of her comeback.

Rather than focusing on one defining race, Evans has deliberately sampled everything from rapid-fire mixed relays to middle-distance racing as she works out what the next chapter of her career should look like.

“I’ve definitely thrown myself into a plethora of distances. I’ve enjoyed everything from the relay up to 70.3 Valencia.

“I’m probably creating more questions than answers at the moment, but I’m enjoying it. This year is just about learning.”

There are still big decisions ahead.

The Olympic dream has not disappeared – more on that in the next part of this interview.

Middle-distance racing continues to grow in appeal – her second place at Valencia qualified her for the 70.3 Worlds.

For now, though, Evans is resisting the urge to force an answer, suggesting that focus will instead come next year.

Instead, she is embracing something that once felt almost impossible. Enjoying the journey.