SheLovesTri celebrates the joy, strength and unstoppable spirit of women and girls in triathlon, whether as athletes, coaches, technical officials, facilitators, volunteers, officers or staff members.
About SheLovesTri
Our Mission
Why SheLovesTri
SheLovesTri celebrates every woman and girl who says YES to triathlon in any role that suits her mind, body and soul. The pure spirit that drives women and girls to take on leadership roles to make a difference every day.
Impact & Milestones
Led by Example: World Triathlon Presidents’ advocacy for gender equity
Mr Les McDonald (1989-2008)
The Canadian founding president of World Triathlon (formerly the International Triathlon Union), Les McDonald established a core value of gender equity throughout all areas of the organisation. He played a pivotal role in bringing triathlon into the Olympic Games. As one of triathlon’s most influential figures, he championed progressive values within the sport, advocating equal prize money, representation, competition formats, media recognition, and joint medal ceremonies for men and women.
In addition to the IOC Olympic Order Award, he received a continental trophy at the IOC’s 2010 Women and Sport Awards, presented at IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. The awards recognised five continental trophies and one world trophy, given to individuals who had made an outstanding contribution to advancing the development, participation, and involvement of women and girls in sport worldwide. Mr McDonald, representing Canada, received the Americas award, making him the only man to receive the honour at that time.
Les McDonald became motivated to work toward gender equality in sport after his daughter was denied entry into a running race in 1975. Shortly thereafter, McDonald started a 10K race in his hometown of Vancouver exclusively for women.
Ms Marisol Casado (2008-2025)
Marisol Casado succeeded McDonald, becoming the second president of World Triathlon and, in 2008, the only woman leading an International Federation at that time and for years after.
She was one of just 6 women among 5,000 participants in the 1978 Madrid Marathon. In 1984, she won Spain’s first-ever triathlon in Guadalajara. In 2004, she co-founded the Spanish Olympic Committee’s Commission for Sport and Women, serving as its president until 2009.
Throughout her career, Ms Casado has been a committed advocate for gender parity and quotas. World Triathlon has promoted gender equality and gender-balanced governing body quotas since its inception. One of the main mandates of her term was to include the Mixed Relay (two women and two men) at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Mr Antonio F. Arimany (2024-present)
The current president of World Triathlon continues to advocate for gender equity in triathlon across all levels, disciplines, and members.
From our earliest World Championships, women and men have raced the same distances, for the same prize money, on the same stage. When our sport joined the Olympic Games, women’s and men’s events stood side by side from day one. When we created the mixed relay, we did more than add an event: we put two women and two men on one team, competing together for one result. Why not? That is equality. That is what sport should be.
But believing in equity is not enough. Standing on a podium is not the same as sitting in a boardroom, leading a coaching team, joining a technical delegation, or heading a national federation. We have made real progress. But we have also learned that progress does not last on its own. It must be built, defended, and renewed, generation after generation.
That is why SheLovesTri exists.
For the girl trying triathlon for the first time. For the athlete looking for a role model to follow. For the coach, official, or administrator who has wondered if there is a place for her in this sport’s future. SheLovesTri answers clearly: yes, there is.
To every woman and girl who finds her way to our sport: welcome.
SheLovesTri - TriLovesShe
Be your extraordinary.
Antonio F. Arimany
World Triathlon President
Milestones
1989
Dr Sarah Springman, Loreen Barnett, Flo Bryan and Lyn Brooks met to plan the progress with the new ITU (International Triathlon Union) Women’s Commission. The statement was “Equality of opportunity, recognition and reward for women in triathlon with the men” around that time. The Commission met annually at the Congress.
2000
Triathlon debuts at the Sydney Olympic Games with men’s and women’s individual events introduced simultaneously; triathlon enters the Olympic programme with full gender parity from day one, unlike many sports that added women’s events later.
2000
The first Technical Delegate of the Olympic Games (Sydney 2000) was female: Loreen Barnett (CAN).
2000
The first medal of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games was presented to Women’s Triathlon.
2008
Marisol Casado (ESP) was elected as the second president of the organisation, becoming the only female president of an International Federation at the time.
2008
The President and/or the 1st Vice-President, or both, have been women since 2008.
2009
Mixed Relay format (two women, two men) introduced at World Triathlon Championship level in Des Moines, USA.
2010
Introduction of Mixed Relay at the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.
2016
Starting at the Rio Olympic Games, out of the 3 Technical Delegates, one must be a female.
2019
Since 2019, World Triathlon has had two athlete representatives at the Executive Board - the constitution states that it has to be one male and one female from two different continents.
2020
Introduction of Mixed Relay at the Olympic Games Programme at the Tokyo Olympic Games (order: woman-man-woman-man).
2023
Frozen World Triathlon Ranking Rule for maternity leave, supporting female athletes’ return to racing after pregnancy.
2024
World Triathlon achieves 50-50% female-male representation in the Technical Officials assignments (one of the 5 International Federations achieving that) at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
2024
Rotating the Mixed Relay participants’ order within each Olympic Cycle (man-woman-man-woman vs woman-man-woman-man), providing equal opportunities for both genders.
2025
World Triathlon published two studies (please see more details on them under Resources).
2026
World Triathlon Development increased female participation quota from 25% to 30% for entry-level coaches and Technical Officials courses.
2026
Launch of SheLovesTri website dedicated to female participation in triathlon.
2028
LA2028 Paralympics: equal medal events for both genders.
Female share across World Triathlon: athletes, governance, staff, and coach and Technical Officials education.
Male - Female Ratio Across World Triathlon
45%
Age Group - WCh Wollongong 2025
31%
Executive Board (11:5)
35%
Staff (22:12)
35%
Coach Level 1 (320 of 926)
27%
Coach Level 2 (115 of 428)
39%
Technical Officials Level 1 (774 of 1,989)
36%
Technical Officials Level 2 (158 of 443)
38%
Technical Officials Level 3 (31 of 81)
