Chelsea Sodaro: GTN Meet The 2022 Ironman World Champion!

[@grahambell9831]

What a nice person Chelsea is. A Great insightful interview. Even the winner is normal too. Seeing the rainbow in the swim! 🌈 , the high heart rate at the start of the bike, the hurt in the closing stages. The best athletes are "normal".........their given talent, work ethic, mindset & staying with their race plan can on their day will yield a win 🏆. Congratulations Chelsea you thoroughly deserved your win.

[@FiguringOut50s]

I think it's great that you asked the question about the decision to have kids when Chelsea did. Many people would avoid this because truly it's no one's business; but I also think the discussion around deciding to have children, how hard that decision is, and the challenges around it is really an important discussion for many women. Thanks for talking Chelsea!

[@ZenEndurance]

And the fact that successful and intelligent societies tend to choose when to have children instead of being forced to by lack of resources and draconian laws.

[@Saitir942]

Wow what a beautifully human interview James, truly exceptional. Certainly, far and above the usual post-race interviews we get elsewhere. Such a better insight into Chelsea from this.

[@Oue22]

The discussion of the women having their own day was spot on. Loved watching the race with no split focus between the men and women. Now looking forward to seeing the men race today!

[@craigjok]

Great interview and Congratulations to Chelsea. Her path to Ironman is amazing. I’ve only done one Ironman and listening to her story brings back memories of the commitments you make and the support of family and friends that is so important to getting across a finish line whether you are a pro like Chelsea or just a regular struggling guy like me.

[@kmetz878]

Chelsea - you had a FANTASTIC race. So nice to hear more about you - great interview GTN.

[@3WalkingPoles]

Very good interview, James. Looks like you're in your element in Kona. Chelsea... how can you not cheer for her - great personality. Her performance was amazing - I couldn't belive what I see on the run. Congratultions.

[@gtn]

Thanks for the comment ☺️

[@VABigRing]

Wow…! My granddaughter is already watching the rerun of the entire race right now and screaming her name…! She is a model for young women ……one right here wants to be just like her.

[@gtn]

Awesome 🙌🙌🙌

[@tassko]

Chelsea you ran strong and so beautifully - definition of poetry in motion. Your times on both the swim and bike were excellent. Congratulations on a superb performance and well deserved win. 🎊 🎉

[@lewisgeyer1440]

Great interview GTN and Chelsea. Thank you!

[@samholder196]

stunning performance -- the way she worked the aid stations then jumped back into rhythm was a thing of beauty

[@CleanDogz]

Fantastic interview!

[@kmonnier]

Great interview.

[@jlsabinas8578]

Great interview, James! Chelsea is such a pleasant person, seems real easy to talk to. She doesn't seem like your usual professional, and I don't mean that in a bad way. She seems like one of us! Like one day, in a run around her neighborhood, she said, 'That felt good! I think I'll try Ironman!', lol. Amazing race, Chelsea! Look forward to seeing what you can do from here on out, and of course next year in Kona! 😀

[@urszuladonigiewicz]

That is a very nature interview James, you lucky guy to have chatted to her! Chelsea is so inspiring and seeing her as a World Champ brings plenty of emotions 💙

[@gtn]

Thanks 🙌

[@atlosass]

Wow. Just wow. What an amazingly well-grounded, inspiring, awesome person! Terrific interview!

[@jeremymaclean3535]

Amazing personality. Great winner

[@andreemurray7039]

Great interview great back up team

[@FueledbyJohn]

Great interview and congratulations! 🥳

[@chrisreilly8882]

Congratulations 🎊 Chelsea

[@jeffreywilliams3646]

Great interview. I hope y'all will be able to do one with the men's winner as well.

[@gtn]

We'll do what we can 🙌

[@rubensonorio8805]

Chelsea is amazing 💪💪💪congratulations 👏👏👏

[@billlovelace1522]

WHAT A OUTSTANDING WOMEN'S CHAMPION..... OUTSTANDING.

[@alisonwilks302]

Bloody brilliant !!! I watched the whole thing and Chelsea was laughing and smiling on the bike , woo woo goo good for you ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@fm28121]

So so so well deserved! What an incredible performance! 🎉

[@triroo107]

Seeing things on the swim, it’s the comment I hear the most from the first timers, wildlife, clouds and rainbows, it relaxes you and lets you enjoy the swim… now with no mass start it should really relax people… love the ladies only with a few age group men mixed in… they deserve Saturday next year…. Great interview 👍💪🙏🥂🇺🇸

[@jfloyo11]

Pure Mom Energy...she should copyright it

[@merciefantroy2999]

"i saw the rainbow....i was like, oh a rainbow!" 🌈 (lol; I loved that)

[@gtn]

Us too 😆

[@chrisstrider]

This is great for the sport

[@mikew6840]

Really nice relaxed interview, James & nice to be able to talk from own experience. I guess after childbirth that last 10K is a breeze… 😏

[@elaineyoung2609]

Enjoyed the interview questions and love Chelsea - so inspirational. I do wonder if a male triathlete with new kids would ever have to answer a question about daycare and germs?

[@jamescunnama3583]

Given my own experiences with this and that Braden Currie withdrew with illness almost certainly transmitted by his kids, I'm going to say yes.

[@jrparker4804]

Congratulations, Chelsea! 💪🇺🇸👍

[@jfloyo11]

an American finally did it again...never thought I would see it again.

[@maxv9870]

Nice!!!

[@FifalianaFR]

Well that coach's phone is going to ring a lot in the next few days haha

[@wolfgangresch1650]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🤜🤛♥️

[@SwimBikeRory]

Kind of giving her a hard time saying nobody knew who she was before Kona 😅 she was definitely on the map after her Collins Cup appearances at the very least! Very proud of her ascent 🙌

[@Joe_Jones4u]

What rude comments well done with the new record but we might see that disappear in the near future? What rubbish commentary from gtn!

[@jamescunnama3583]

She's was 1:19 off the record (as in slower than the record), and the record might disappear because Chelsea might break it soon. Rude comments are all yours.

[@Ipitythefool87]

Not liking the opening here guys. The woman just won Kona and you question her on why she had a kid 18 months ago? What?

[@hannahmuller3279]

Well at first i thought the same. But tbh the way he asked her and the reasons why he had asked her that were quite clear and making sense. Even if it maybe was not the best start at conversation it is still okay to ask her about kids, training, family and the balance between all of them in this case.

[@erictravis5995]

Chelsea is an advocate for moms in sport and this question gave her an opportunity to talk about that. My guess is that it was pre-discussed, and even if not, it was thoughtfully phrased with caring intent. Chelsea has shown that having a baby as a professional athlete is not only possible but can make you even more competitive with the right support team - well done to her and her coach for opening the eyes of the world!

[@savagepro9060]

@@erictravis5995 Serena Williams did that ALREADY, and even BEFORE Serena others have done that, so what?

[@erictravis5995]

@@savagepro9060 , simply pointing out that she has accomplished her goal and has set a wonderful example of what is possible. I also don’t put tennis and Ironman world championship in the same ball park. While both are serious sports and require significant commitment. The physical toll on the body of Ironman training and racing is at another level. Chelsea is the “first” mom to win the Ironman World Championship and that is something worth celebrating.

[@9danke]

That is a legit and interesting question to a pro athlete who’s entire livelihood depends on their body.

[@savagepro9060]

A lot of people did the baby thing during the Pandemic! No big deal!

[@chrisstrider]

Having a child is the biggest deal in life

[@savagepro9060]

@@chrisstrider Jesus never had children