A Sault Ste. Marie athlete has a busy month ahead, with two competitions of the highest level on opposite ends of the globe.
Taylor Corelli is preparing for her first ever Ironman World Championship in Hawaii on Oct. 10, while her third 70.3 World Championship is also just around the corner in Nice, France.
The 35-year-old qualified for the Hawai’i event last month in Ottawa, where she competed in her first full 140.6 mile Ironman. She had previously been racing the half Ironman distance, including when CTV News last spoke with her in 2022 after she qualified for the triathlete world championship.
“My goal was to finish, and I mean, at some point, I guess the competitive switch in me flipped,” she said speaking with CTV News on Friday.
“I just kind of move just one step ahead of the other the whole time. Just keep moving forward and I ended up finishing fourth and getting this the world Championship slot.”
“It turned out really well.”
— Sault triathlete Taylor Corelli
Training ramps up for longer distance
The full Ironman includes a 3.8 kilometre swim, 180 kilometres on the bike, and a full marathon of 42.2 kilometres. Corelli says the shift to full Ironman races has meant her training has also kicked into another gear, and now takes up to 25 hours per week.
Throughout her athletic career, the Sault native has been to competitions across the globe, including Spain, Utah, and New Zealand.
“Getting to travel and have good placings is really just the cherry on top,” she told CTV News.
“Like it’s really the like dedication and hard work and the trust in myself that I’ve gained along the way. That is what I will take with me going forward.”
No expectations, only pride in performance
Corelli heads to France in just a couple of days, preparing for the 70.3 mile world championships less than a month before the Ironman worlds. The Sault athlete says she has no time or place expectations, only wanting to put together races that she’s proud of and reflect her years of training.
Role model for young athletes
The lifelong athlete states that not only does she love the competition, but also that she gets to set an example for her family and for women in sport.
“I have a couple nephews and nieces, so I’m always just trying to show them, like, just go after your dreams. Possibilities are endless,” she said.
“I’m happy to be that role model and then same with for like other women and girls, the sport needs more women. So, I’m happy to be out there trying to get more women involved.”
