Ironman
Athletes like Chelsea Sodaro and Jackie Hering are part of a growing group of mothers reshaping what it looks like to compete at the highest level. Beyond their performances, they are expanding what is visible – and what is possible – for women and athlete mothers across triathlon.
Triathlon Magazine sat down with both athletes to explore their experiences, perspectives, and the work they are doing to push the sport forward.
Chelsea Sodaro: Winning Kona – and What Came After
Chelsea transitioned from professional running to triathlon in 2017. In 2022, she won the Ironman World Championship just 18 months after giving birth to her daughter, Skye, becoming only the second mother to win the title, and the first with a newborn.
It was a milestone not only in her career, but for the sport. Her win challenged long-held assumptions about motherhood and peak performance, offering a visible and powerful example of what is possible.
For Chelsea, it also marked the beginning of something larger, and remains one of the aspects of that victory she is most proud of.
While the result itself was significant, the impact did not stop there. Chelsea has continued to advocate for greater support for athlete mothers, both in the professional and age-group ranks.
As an Athlete Advisor and Legacy Champion with For All Mothers+, she is focused on expanding opportunity, challenging outdated assumptions, and supporting the development of policies and standards that will shape the sport for the next generation of athletes.
In her words: “I’ve navigated elite sport and motherhood simultaneously. It shouldn’t require extraordinary resilience to exist in both spaces… We’re not asking for permission. We’re building a playbook that will rewrite history for all mothers. In my own journey I’ve learned that my dreams and goals are possible, but only with the right support.”
Chelsea has been instrumental in several behind-the-scenes changes, including financial support for new moms to travel with their baby and a support person to T100 race destinations. This was not available when she initially competed in the series, but has since been implemented. She also contributed to the inclusion of lactation stations in Kona and has been supporting the expansion of childcare options at races.
She has also emphasized the importance of support not only during pregnancy, but throughout the post-partum period.
Chelsea continues to represent what is possible at the highest level, while actively helping make that path more accessible for others.
Jackie Hering: The Women’s Race – Expanding Coverage
A mother of two, Skylar and Hunter, Jackie Hering has built a 15-year professional career that includes over 20 full-distance finishes, 26 podiums, and 12 wins.
More recently, she has also been contributing to the sport in a different way: by changing how the women’s race is covered.
Through her newly launched The Women’s Race Podcast, Jackie is bringing greater visibility to professional women, highlighting not only results, but the stories and context behind them.
“It’s a labour of love,” she said. “The whole point of it is to elevate the stories of the women who are racing professionally.”
She also spoke to something that becomes hard to ignore once you see it. The top women in the sport are well known, but those finishing fifth, sixth, and seventh are far less visible. On the men’s side, coverage tends to run deeper, with more discussion and analysis across the field. On the women’s side, that same depth is not always there.
At Ironman Texas, she pointed to the excitement around the first two professional women, Solveig and Taylor, but noted the lack of discussion beyond that.
“The goal of the podcast is equal coverage of the women’s pro race,” she said. “[And] if I’m honest, this podcast was born out of frustration.”
She has started with higher-profile guests to help build early reach, but plans to expand the focus to include professional women who receive less media attention but are equally worth getting to know.
Progress, With Work Still Ahead
Both women spoke to how far the sport has come in supporting women and athlete mothers, while also recognizing that there is still more to do.
They are not only competing at the highest level while raising families, but actively working to improve the system and support for those who follow.
We extend our gratitude to Chelsea, Jackie, and the other incredible women leading and modeling the way forward.
Mel Sauve is an Ironman triathlete and a regular contributor to Triathlon Magazine. She also leads the magazine’s on-the-ground photography at major events, including the Ironman and Ironman 70.3 World Championships.