Running a race is one thing; it’s another to add on swimming and cycling before lacing up one’s sneakers and hitting the pavement. Such is the challenge for triathletes, who pack three endurance sports into one exhilarating, all-consuming race.
“I look at triathlons as the fountain of youth,” 73-year-old Bob Babbitt, a legendary athlete who has competed in over 500 triathlons, told Nice News. “It’s something you can do forever.” Forever or not, one race or 100, there’s no doubt triathletes are forces of determination who have kept the endurance sport alive since the first race on Sept. 25, 1974 — with competitions taking place all over the world, stretching from the home of the inaugural triathlon in San Diego, California, to the painstakingly difficult Norseman triathlon in Norway.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the first triathlon, we’re highlighting 10 triathletes who’ve gone above and beyond to chase their dreams and encourage others to pursue their own. And if you happen to be local to Orange County, California, look out for Nice News’ booth at the Cal Tri Newport Dunes triathlon, taking place Nov. 3 and sponsored by our parent company, Optimism.
Sika Henry: First U.S. Black Woman Professional Triathlete
“If you love a new challenge, triathlon is an incredible sport to take on,” Sika Henry, 40, told Nice News, adding, “The first step is usually the hardest, but once you get going it feels incredible.”
Her story is proof of triathlon’s infectiousness, as Henry went from not owning a bike in 2013 to finishing on the podium at five Ironman competitions by 2024. She also earned a spot in the National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame, becoming the first Black female professional triathlete in the country. But the road to success hasn’t been without its challenges: In April 2019, Henry “had a horrific cycling accident while racing a half Ironman,” she explained in an Instagram post. The setback didn’t stop her, though. Five months later, she raced in an Ironman, a moment she calls her proudest of all.
Retiring from triathlons this year, Henry is now focused on using her voice for the Ironman Foundation’s Race for Change initiative to break down barriers and make sports more equitable for all.
Favorite piece of exercise gear: “My Garmin Forerunner 945. I love how effortlessly it syncs with TrainingPeaks so that I can track workouts and my coach can follow my progress.”
Chris Nikic: First Person With Down Syndrome to Complete an Ironman
Chris Nikic, 24, is a changemaker in every sense of the word. As the first person with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman, Nikic is dedicated to using his voice to make fitness feel more inclusive and accessible for people with all abilities. Beyond setting an example of what’s possible, Nikic launched the “1% Better” challenge (and book), emphasizing the value of small yet powerful steps.
“[People with Down syndrome] do everything slower than everyone else, but can do it, too,” he told Nice News. His advice to others considering embarking on a triathlon: “Do it. Exercise is medicine and triathlon is the best medicine,” he said. “I am so much healthier now.”
Favorite running song: “The Rocky song. I also love hip-hop.”
Melissa Stockwell: Veteran, Paralympian, and Guinness World Record Holder
This summer, Melissa Stockwell, 44, finished fifth in the women’s PTS2 Para triathlon event at the Paralympic Games in Paris. Before that, she set a new record in her division at the Boston Marathon, won a bronze medal in Rio de Janeiro, and wrote a book. All of the above (and much more) she achieved after losing her leg in active combat in 2004 during the war in Iraq. When asked what motivates her to keep competing, she had a simple yet profound response: “Because I can!” Stockwell told Nice News. “I love the challenge of all three disciplines and the camaraderie of the triathlon community. My teammates are also some of my best friends and I love training and racing with them.”
The first Iraq war veteran to qualify for the Paralympics, Stockwell has also helped blaze the trail for athletes of all abilities through her nonprofit Dare2tri. “By providing athletes with expensive adaptive equipment, coaching, training, or sometimes something as simple as transportation to a race can add self-worth, self-confidence, and show them how much ability is in their disability,” she said.
Favorite running equipment: “My prosthetic running leg (does that count?) — or else it’s my Trek bike.”
Raymond Braun: Record-Breaking Triathlete and Mental Health Advocate
In 2023, Raymond Braun, who previously didn’t have much long-distance running experience, became the first person to complete a 777 challenge: seven triathlons on seven continents in seven days (yes, even Antarctica).
More than a globetrotting adventure, the challenge was the 34-year-old’s way of both honoring his best friend, who died of cancer, and commemorating his journey of recovery from obsessive-compulsive disorder. “I wanted to destigmatize conversations about mental health and show, through a seemingly impossible physical challenge, that investing in therapy and mental health makes us strong,” Braun told Nice News. “The 777 was my ‘Ph.D. final exam’ of OCD exposure therapy treatment.”
His vision is for more people to keep dreaming, whether or not their dreams involve triathlons. “I’ve noticed that we too often slow down our dreaming as we age, or get calcified in a mindset of ‘I can’t do this,‘ ‘I don’t do this,’ or ‘This isn’t who I am.’ And I am here to gently challenge that idea.”
Fun fact: Braun was the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics correspondent for Nice News. See his full coverage here, including a piece on mental health in sports.
Bob Babbitt: Longtime Triathlete, Storyteller
For over four decades, the aforementioned Babbitt has competed in at least one triathlon every year — including a race on his birthday. He explained his love for the sport was born after finishing his first triathlon in 1978. “Something about finishing that race changed my perception of me. It gave me a business card that told me I could do whatever I wanted in life,” he told Nice News. Babbitt also noted that the threshold between each endurance event (swimming to cycling to running) holds a special power: “There are highs and lows in each of the sports and it’s a microcosm of life.”
When he’s not racing or training, he’s helping others achieve their goals as the co-founder of the Challenged Athletes Foundation — a nonprofit on a mission to empower individuals with physical disabilities through sport — or sharing stories about the resilient athletes he works alongside.
Favorite running music: “I like to listen to the audio [of] documentaries, like the Beckham docuseries — time just goes by. And Michael Jordan’s docuseries The Last Dance.”
Adrian Lam: Cancer Survivor
When Adrian Lam, now 19, was training for his first triathlon in 2023, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma. While his training was halted for treatment, it was only a matter of time before he was back at it. This past August, he not only competed in the Chicago Triathlon while in near-full remission, but also raised money for Lurie’s Children’s Hospital, where he received treatment. “I wanted to give back to a community that saved my life,” he told Nice News. He added, “It was a very good way to end this unfortunate chapter of my life.”
Fun fact: With his first triathlon, Lam raised more than $12,000 for pediatric cancer research — and surpassed his finishing time by 10 minutes.
RELATED: Team USA’s Most Inspiring Moments From the 2024 Paralympics
Amanda Young: Triathlete Raising Awareness for Mental Health
As a triathlete with bipolar disorder, Amanda Young, 31, understands the relationship between mental health and exercise. “Moving my body consistently keeps me at my best and I’m reminded how strong I truly am,” she told Nice News. Young started training for her first triathlon over a year ago after giving birth to her daughter, documenting the journey on social media and raising awareness for mental health. “Making sure that you’re taking care of your mind in addition to taking care of your body is so, so vital,” Young said.
Favoring training essentials: “Bonk Breaker chews in Sour Blue Razz Berry. And my rainbow Hokas! I get compliments on them every single race.”
Edwina “Eddie” Brocklesby: Oldest British Woman to Complete an Ironman
At 74, Edwina “Eddie” Brocklesby became the oldest British woman to complete an Ironman triathlon. Now 81, Brocklesby has adopted the nickname “Irongran” and is still maintaining an active, upbeat lifestyle post-hip replacement. “I enjoy exercising, there’s always a feel-good factor and a definite sense of having fun,” she said in an interview with UK Coaching, noting the reason she was motivated to start running was to prove her husband wrong. “That was the challenge I needed. I never looked back.” She is also the author of a memoir and founder of Silverfit, a charity on a mission to promote affordable physical activity at any age. “It’s never too late to change your lifestyle,” she said.
Fun fact: Brocklesby didn’t start exercising regularly until her fifties.
Jeff and Johnny Agar: Resilient Father-Son Team
An epic father-son team, Jeff and Johnny Agar are a force to be reckoned with. Johnny, 30, was born with cerebral palsy and has competed in 200-plus different kinds of races, over 30 of which were triathlons, alongside his father. In 2022, the duo hit a remarkable milestone: They finished an Ironman in just under 17 hours after attempting the race five times. “We’ve been telling him his whole life that things are going to be tough, but you just got to give it a try,” Jeff told MLive.com about his son.
Fun fact: Johnny wrote a memoir called The Impossible Mile about his journey of overcoming physical limitations and how cerebral palsy has shaped him into who he is today.
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