IRONMAN World Champion announces 2025 triathlon season plan, ‘the year of North America’

2022 IRONMAN World Champion Chelsea Sodaro is staying close to home for the 2025 season with a race calendar set to feature some of North America’s top IRONMAN Pro Series races.

The 35-year-old, who finished third in last season’s IRONMAN World Championship in Nice, recently moved to Boulder, Colorado, and is eager to limit the amount of travel she and her family make for the upcoming campaign.

The American star has the ultimate goal of winning a second Kona crown in October, and she believes competing in the Pro Series could be the best preparation for an assault on the Big Island.

Sodaro all-in on Kona

Speaking to Jack Kelly on The Triathlon Hour podcast, the current PTO World #16 commented on her 2025 plans. However, she was reluctant to reveal the exact races she would attend.

“This is going to be the year of North America for me. There are so many great race opportunities here in the States and Canada,” she explained.

“I think with my big Kona goal in October, and my family life, it makes sense to avoid much travel. We travelled so much last year, and that takes its toll.

“I’m hoping to race a fair amount, that’s the plan, but will mostly do the IRONMAN Pro Series. We’ll see how it pans out.”

A quick look at the IRONMAN Pro Series calendar highlights the likes of IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside (April 5), IRONMAN Texas North American Championship (April 26), IRONMAN 70.3 St George (May 10), IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman (June 8), IRONMAN Lake Placid (July 20) – it’s likely Sodaro will show up on the start line of some of these prestigious events.

“For me, I don’t think it makes sense to publicly announce my race calendar for this year. There are some big US races at the beginning of the American season that I plan to be at.

“I think what has been hard the last couple of years is being committed to events, then to see my health issues get in the way.”

IMWC repeat bid ruined by late injury

Chelsea was on top of the world following her 2022 World Championship win, and thought she was “in the best shape of her life” heading into her 2023 visit to Kona, but the injury bug reared its ugly head.

“Two weeks before Kona in 2023 I had a fluke injury when I was really in the shape of my life. I went into the race injured and couldn’t get it done. Sixth place was a devastating result for me coming in as defending champion.

“I took some time off, and started to get back into it. I had a tough time in the offseason after Kona. The December, January, February time of the year has always been miserable for me. Lots of failed sessions, low energy – like really not enjoying training.

“I chalked that up to being winter, and being stuck on the treadmill a lot. But I think in reality I have been really tired for a really long time.”

Boulder move and coaching change

Following a successful start to the 2024 season, with victories at IRONMAN 70.3 Tasmania and IRONMAN New Zealand, Sodaro looked in good shape for the year ahead, but she admitted all was not well on the inside.

“Last year, my family and I went to New Zealand for about three months. I raced the Tauranga Half and had a solid personal day there, especially considering the point in my training. I got beat there though and I was pissed about that.

“But I ended up winning IRONMAN 70.3 Tasmania,. Then I had a super short build to Taupo and ended up breaking Teresa Adam’s record there. Breaking that record made me feel optimistic about how the year would go.

“I was, however, dealing with a professional situation after that race and wasn’t recovering. I wasn’t regaining my energy and didn’t have my legs under me and dropped out of Singapore – which was really tough. When I got back to the the US I couldn’t really get into a groove.”

Since her return to the US, Sodaro has moved her family to the “Mecca of Triathlon” – Boulder, Colorado. She has also acquired the services of coach Neal Henderson.

“Moving to Boulder in the summer of last year was really rejuvenating for me, as was leaving my former coach. Working with Neal Henderson who has been a game-changer for me.”