Kelsey Myers Wants to Make Triathlon History and Make a Difference

Kelsey Myers Wants to Make Triathlon History and Make a Difference

Kelsey Myers is a marketer for brands like Disney and Nike, the founder of the women’s triathlon brand Tortis, and she has been a triathlete for over 15 years. She’s now training for her most challenging race yet, 7 Triathlons, in 7 days, on 7 continents, the Global Triathlon 🌍🤯

What inspired you to take on this challenge?

My friend Raymond Braun encouraged me to go after the record to be the first woman to attempt the record because he was the first man to complete 7 triathlons on 7 continents in 7 days this past February. He and I have had many conversations on runs, post-swim, over coffee, etc. about how the world of triathlon has tons of potential to be more inclusive and welcoming to people outside of the sport. After that, I was connected to the 501 (c)(3) non-profit ZGiRLS, who were founded by Olympic athletes and strive to build self-confidence in middle school girls through their online programs, led by the athletes themselves.

• This record attempt is a fundraiser for ZGiRLS so they can create more programming and scholarships for girls who don’t have access to this type of curriculum as well as an invitation to girls and women around the world to try something that might feel intimidating at first glance.

How will you prepare differently for this unique challenge?

This is the first time I’ve ever worked with a triathlon coach actually, even though I’ve done triathlons on and off for 15 years. I also relocated to Southern California for a few months so I can train with the many training groups down here and I have started to incorporate cold plunging into my training to prepare for the swim in Antarctica.

What scares you about the challenge?

I’m most afraid of the leopard seals in Antarctica if I’m being honest, plus the cold temperatures in both Antarctica and Chile. I will be completing two triathlons back-to-back in a single day.

• I also worry about the logistics side of this attempt–so many things can go wrong and I’m afraid that even if I am able to handle the physical and mental challenge, a delayed flight or bad weather could ruin the whole thing.

What does success look like with this challenge?

Success for this challenge looks like even just one girl or woman trying a triathlon for the first time when she thought that was impossible before. I think anytime you take something that seems impossible–triathlon is a great example of this for age groups athletes–and you debunk it, it rewires the subconscious mind in a way that applies to other aspects of a person’s life and you find yourself capable of overcoming other challenges that may have appeared impossible at first glance.

Be sure to follow Kelsey’s journey to the challenge on TikTok and Instagram @theglobaltriathlon