Chelsea Sodaro’s Biggest Victory Isn’t Kona—It’s Her Well-Being

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Dec 14, 2023

Chelsea Sodaro, the first American woman in 25 years to win the Ironman World Championship, opens up about her journey through motherhood and mental health challenges. She shares her struggles with anxiety and the importance of seeking help, emphasizing that even champions face significant battles. The conversation highlights the need for better support and equity for female athletes, the role of storytelling in sports, and the importance of prioritizing mental well-being. Chelsea advocates for systemic changes in athletics to empower women and balance personal ambitions with motherhood.

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ANECDOTE

Triathlon Beginnings

Chelsea Sodaro's initiation into triathlon included reading Siri Lindley's book and Finding Ultra.
These books inspired her to explore the sport in her late 20s.

ANECDOTE

Post-Kona Struggles

Chelsea Sodaro faced mental health challenges after winning the Kona Ironman World Championship.
This year, despite placing sixth, she feels prouder and in a better headspace.

ANECDOTE

Fighting for Sixth

Despite knowing she wouldn't win, Sodaro set personal challenges during the race.
She fought hard for sixth place, considering it a career-defining moment.

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We love to celebrate professional athletes as superheroes. But even world champions are human.

Just 18 months after giving birth, in 2022 Chelsea Sodaro became the first American woman in 25 years to win the Ironman World Championship and the first Kona-crowned rookie since Chrissie Wellington’s victory in 2007. It was a new-mom-Cinderella story that travelled beyond the endurance press to the mainstream, positioning her as a powerful and inspiring voice for female athletes and young moms all across the world.

But just as she reached the highest echelon of success, Chelsea began to face a challenge far more difficult than Kona. The periodic bouts with mental health that had visited her in the past came roaring back in the form of an acute anxiety disorder that made it difficult for her to leave the house, left her bereft, unable to train, and prone to suicidal ideation.

Refusing to accept debilitation, Chelsea sought help for a problem her champion mindset alone simply couldn't solve. Today Chelsea shares her story with laudable openness and vulnerability.

In this conversation we discuss the tools Chelsea relies upon to confront and manage her mental health struggles, why she decided to reach out for help, and why sharing her experience publicly has been and continues to be integral to her recovery.

In addition, we discuss Chelsea’s journey to triathlon, the current state of gender equity in the sport, and how we can better support female athletes and make sport more accessible to all.

Chelsea also shares the mindset that has propelled her success and why she actively makes decisions based on love, joy, and possibility rather than fear.

Note: Today we discuss mental health issues some might find confronting. If you are struggling, please raise your hand and reach out for help. You can call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP and if you are experiencing suicidal ideation, know you’re not alone. I encourage you to call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1(800) 273-TALK.

I have so much respect for Chelsea’s strength, courage, and vulnerability.

Chelsea’s story is powerful. I’m proud to help amplify it. And our shared hope is that it helps those in need and serves to further normalize the discourse around mental health.

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