🏊‍♀️🚴‍♀️🏃‍♀️Twenty Somethings Turning to Ironman, Turning Pro, & Turning in Championships

By Henry R. Shoemaker

🥇With Solveig Løvseth taking home the Ironman World Championship in Kona this weekend, the 20-29s announced they’re not here to just try the Ironman distance on or finish. Twenty-somethings are here to win and make it the sport their own! Solveig walked away with the Kona prize at age 26 similar to fellow Norwegians Blummenfelt (28) Iden (26), and recent phenom Casper Stornes (28).

🔴🟡🟢🔵⚫Triathlon is evolving at a rapid rate and many in the sport don’t even realize it’s happening. The largest and really only growing segment in our sport is 22-29. One need not look too far into the data to see the twenty-somethings are here to stay! The now largest age group in triathlon is 30-39, replacing the perennial body of the sport, 40-49s.

💻The maxim of endurance being an aging athlete’s sport is no more. The trajectory of the Norwegian method and reality that youth is the greatest factor in an athlete’s ability to absorb and recover from training load, alongside scientific progress, is leading the way.

🔥My work with USA Triathlon Youth National Champions, and most recently collegiate athletes, has shown firsthand that these athletes can push themselves to the brink in short course racing, and adapt to the demands and required suffering of long course racing. The key is having the discipline to stick to the training plan, including keeping low intensity workouts low, and dialing in rest, recovery, and nutrition. These younger athletes don’t carry the stigma and self-imposed limitations some older adult athletes have settled for; often refusing to accept limitations others try to place on them.

💜S.E.T is committed to the long haul and was founded to invest in developing talent and helping build the longevity necessary for a long and successful race career--and life.

☑️For every 20 something out there, dreaming big, you’re not too young, you’re right where you need to be!

🏆 No matter what your age, we’re here to help you grow in endurance sports and chase your dreams.

Drop your age and your current goal below 👇 Let's crush some stereotypes and goals together.