Lydia Dant went from novice triathlete to Ironman champion in just a few years. Here’s how she did it

Great Britain’s Lydia Dant couldn’t even run 10 km when she decided she was going to do her first Ironman race. Within just a few years, though, she realized that “doing” an Ironman wasn’t going to be enough. She turned pro during the COVID pandemic, then won her debut Ironman effort last year at Ironman Lanzarote.

We caught up with the defending champ after the pre-race press conference, and learned just how she went from novice to champ in such a short time, and what it would mean to defend her title at the world’s toughest Ironman.