Sault Ste. Marie woman takes 9th place in world triathlon championship in Spain

A female athlete from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., achieved two big goals at the 2024 World Triathlon championships in Spain last weekend.

Taylor Corelli, 33, placed 9th in a pool of 60 other women ages 30-34 competing from around the world in Torremolinos, Andalucia, Spain on Oct. 19.

Taylor Corelli, 33, holds medal after finishing 9th in her age category in Spain world championship triathlon. Oct. 19, 2024 (Supplied)

"I arrived in Spain on a personal mission to redeem myself for last year, with big (& scary to admit) goals that I shared with a few nearest and dearest; I wanted to be in the top 10 and I wanted to be the first Canadian," Corelli said in a social media post.

"All week, particularly on race morning, I fought hard to battle self-doubt and imposter syndrome. In these moments I did my best to ground myself and remind myself if I could get to the ‘gun’ my body would know what to do; it always does."

After being disqualified last year, she was the top Canadian in her age group, achieving her second big goal.

She completed the swim, bike and run in two hours, 27 minutes and 18 seconds, just 11 minutes and seven seconds behind the first-place finisher from Australia.

The beach start of the swimming portion was one of many firsts for Corelli, who completed the 1.5-kilometre swim in 26 minutes and 13 seconds.

60 women 30-34 at beach start for world championship triathlon competition in Spain. Oct. 19, 2024 (Taylor Corelli)

"I wish all races started this way. I’m not used to beaches getting deep so quickly living on Lake Superior but what a fun way to start a race," she said.

"The swim was also my first ocean swim and man was it salty, every mouthful was a harsh reminder I was not swimming in the refreshing lakes I’m used to."

It was the buoy rules that got her disqualified last year, so this year, she said she paid extra attention to them.

"I came out of the swim near the front of the group and felt good about my positioning heading into the bike," Corelli said.

The second event, the 40-kilometre cycling, is the hardest for her and mindset continues to be the key to her success.

"The bike was hectic and technical, not ideal for the use of (a) TT bike," she said.

Taylor Corelli's bike and suit for triathlon world championship in Spain. Oct. 19, 2024 (Supplied)

"Biking remains the discipline I feel the least confident in, luckily in a race, I can tap into a different mentality and match any fear with reckless abandon."

She completed the three-lap bike course in one hour, 13 minutes and 29 seconds.

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The final leg of the competition, the 10-kilometre run, was completed by Corelli in 41 minutes and 45 seconds.

"There’s no self-discipline like pushing the run at the end of a triathlon, of this I’m sure," she said.

"I challenged myself to run solely based off feeling and heart and did not allow myself any glimpses at my watch and was able to catch a few girls and not give up any placings."

Crossing the finish line was a moment of redemption for the athlete.

"While results in sport are not everything and should rarely be the main focus, on this occasion I felt such happiness and relief to have met my two lofty goals," Corelli said.

"Goals which represented so much more than the result but the resilience to rise from the hardships and heartbreak of last year."

World championship triathlon routes in Spain. (2024 World Triathlon age-group championships Torremolinos, Andalucia, Spain)

Now that she is back home, she is training for her next competition in December, the Ironman 70.3 world Championships in Taupo, New Zealand.

The Ironman 70.3 consists of a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride and 13.1-mile run.