Bouncing Back: How Chelsea Sodaro Turns Tough Races into Fuel for the Future

The IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, tested every athlete who toed the line, heat, humidity, and heart on full display. For 2022 World Champion Chelsea Sodaro, this year’s race brought challenges that pushed her to the edge.

But as every athlete knows, not every race goes to plan and it’s how you respond that defines what comes next. We caught up with Chelsea post-race to talk about mindset, recovery, and finding strength through struggle.

What are some of the first things you do when a race doesn’t go as planned?

I allow myself to feel really bummed out for a day or two and I connect with my team to figure out what went wrong and what we should do next. Triathlon is a team thing for me and we win and lose together. I'm surrounded by incredible people who help me navigate the waves of competing at the highest level. We don't always get it right, but we can always find a way to get better.

What’s your go-to strategy for getting out of a dark headspace?

I spend time with my family and get back to work. The thing that helps me feel most like myself is training and working towards my goals. In some scenarios it makes sense to take time off after a hard day on the race course. I find that I am able to get my head in the right place when I get back to doing the thing that I love and start working towards my next big goal. I also lean into my mindfulness practice and journal.

Any advice for athletes struggling after a tough race?

It's really easy to be super hard on ourselves, but I think it's often more productive to give ourselves grace. We aren't perfect. We aren't robots. We're human and we make mistakes and we aren't in control of everything. The beauty in racing is that nothing is guaranteed. That's why racing makes us feel so alive. The highs are high and the lows can be low. The key is not staying too low for very long! Some of my biggest disappointments have been the catalyst for my greatest achievements.

How do you carry lessons from a tough day into the next race?

There is always something to learn after a tough day! That's how we get better and take ourselves to a new level. I work closely with my team to find out what went wrong and ensure we don't make the same mistake again.

Even when the result isn’t what she hoped for, Chelsea’s resilience and perspective remind us why she’s one of the most inspiring athletes in triathlon. Every challenge becomes a lesson, every setback a new starting line.