ABOUT
ME

Ironman World Champion and Passionate Mother

Chelsea Sodaro grew up in Davis, California — Bike City, USA. She swam, biked, danced, and played competitive soccer as a young kid. In high school, Chelsea discovered an affinity for running and began competing in cross country and track. After a successful high school track campaign, she was recruited by several top Division 1 programs and decided to take her talents to UC Berkeley. During her senior year she became a Four Time All-American. She was the captain of the cross country team and helped lead the Golden Bears to their first appearance at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in thirty years. Feeling that she had not reached her potential, Chelsea decided to pursue post-collegiate running. As a professional runner, she promptly won two national titles and signed a shoe endorsement with Saucony as a top Olympic prospect for the United States. She was a national level contender and regularly competed in the Diamond League track and field events. Despite her success, Chelsea struggled with injuries and fell short of making the Olympic Team in 2016. Throughout her career as a runner, Chelsea had been following triathlon. After the frustration of the Olympic Trials, her husband, Steve, suggested that she give triathlon a try. She did her first triathlon in the spring of 2017 and was hooked. She began training full time for the sport, and that season achieved her first ITU World Cup podium. In 2018, she won her first ITU World Cup, followed by a transition to long-course racing, where she has won all but two of 70.3 races, including a 4th place finish in her first 70.3 World Championships. While Chelsea is new to triathlon, she is already making a name for herself and is looking to reach the very top of the sport as she pushes the boundaries of what is possible.

Goals

Chelsea has big racing ambitions — she aims to contend at the very pointiest end in every race that she enters. Her ultimate goal is to reach her talent and reach her potential in triathlon. In the meantime, she’s committed to the process of becoming a master on the bike and improving her open water swimming. With her running background, Chelsea is confident that she has what it takes on the run if she’s able to put herself in position when it matters most.

Attitude

In only her 4th 70.3, Chelsea placed 4th and as the top American at the 2019 Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Nice, France and is considered one of the biggest up-and-comers in the sport.

Focus

Chelsea is actively immersed in her local triathlon community, volunteering with IronKids at many of her races as well as working and with local track programs in the Bay Area. She is committed to spreading the word about the importance of
sport and movement.

Hard Work

Chelsea loves the process and all of the details that go into showing up at her best on the days when it matters most. While she’s most inspired by the biggest stages in the sport, she’s equally passionate about pushing her own limits and finding out what’s possible every day in training.

MISSION

In her short career, Chelsea Sodaro has quickly ascended to the top of levels of elite triathlon.

A runner by background, Chelsea was an All-American at UC Berkeley and ran professionally after graduation. She is a two-time national champion (2012 Road 10k and 2013 Indoor 3k) with PRs of 4:30.18 in the mile, 8:47.34 in the 3k, 15:10.14 in the 5K and 32:05.84 in the 10k. After a disappointing race at the 2016 Olympic Trials on the track, Chelsea turned her focus to triathlon – a sport she had followed for some time. In her first professional season, she won the 2018 Huatulco ITU World Cup, firmly establishing herself as an up-and-comer on the ITU circuit.

Despite this success, Chelsea felt that her strengths were better suited for longer distance races. In the summer of 2018, she moved from a short course focus into long course racing. At her first 70.3 in November 2018 she placed on the podium, and followed that up with a win at Ironman 70.3 Indian Wells just a few weeks later. In July, she convincingly won the 2019 Ironman 70.3 Santa Rosa, where her 1:16 run split remains as one of the fastest splits in the world in 2019. At the Ironman 2019 70.3 Championships (and only her 4th 70.3), Chelsea finished as the top American in fourth place. She has since followed that up with two additional 70.3 wins, including becoming the 2019 South American 70.3 Champion.

Chelsea has a competitive swim and bike, and is emerging as the best runner in the sport. In 2018 Chelsea was signed to Team BMC-Vifit. She lives and trains in Marin County, California.

PASSION

I feel most at home outside, especially in the outdoor playground of Marin County. I love to hike and paddle board, followed up with a stop at my favorite  bakery. The best days are those spent cooking and sharing a great meal with friends. My Dad is from Boston, so I grew up a big Red Sox and Patriots fan. I’m the proud owner of an 8-year old Boxer dog named, Tyson. I love fanny packs, and I’ve been known to randomly bust out flossing on bike rides.

GOALS

Chelsea has big racing ambitions — she aims to contend at the very pointiest end in every race that she enters. Her ultimate goal is to reach her talent and reach her potential in triathlon. In the meantime, she’s committed to the process of becoming a master on the bike and improving her open water swimming. With her running background, Chelsea is confident that she has what it takes on the run if she’s able to put herself in position when it matters most.