Swimming coach Elena Rodolfi is preparing to lead 100 amateur triathletes, many of them first-timers, to the start line at the London T100 weekend as part of a mission to make the sport more accessible to underrepresented communities.
Open Water Swim Taster Session
Rodolfi taught an open water swim taster session at British Triathlon’s ‘50 days to go’ launch event ahead of the World Triathlon Championship Series in London on 25 July. The initiative was part of British Triathlon’s work within the London community to open more opportunities to get people involved in triathlon, with community groups BADU and STUK taking part.
Inspiring All Ages and Backgrounds
As a swimming coach and triathlete herself, Rodolfi hopes events like this will inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to take up the sport. “At BADU, we’re trying to engage the inactive people in the community, especially from the global majority, who are usually not as visible in the swimming or triathlon environment,” she said. “Triathlon can be quite daunting if you’re not represented. We provide all the support and we start together, we finish together.”
“Opportunities like this give our athletes trained coaches to learn from and the support of everyone. I can’t wait to do the next one - I’m still buzzing from this.”
Building a Legacy for Triathlon in London
Through community involvement, British Triathlon is helping build a legacy for triathlon in London by growing participation in clubs and events, and making the sport more accessible. Thousands of amateur triathletes will take on a range of distances across the wider London T100 weekend. It is an exciting time for the London triathlon community, with a brilliant weekend of competition to look forward to.
WTCS racing returns to the city on 25 July for the first time since 2015, and around 100 of the world’s top triathletes are set to compete. Some standout British names are expected to feature, including Olympic champion Alex Yee and former World Champion and current leader in the 2026 World Championship, Beth Potter. Alongside their own competition, Rodolfi and the BADU team are excited to cheer on some of the sport’s most famous faces at the WTCS race.
Fast, Spectator-Friendly Racing
Both elite races will finish in under an hour, with the sprint format promising fast, spectator-friendly racing. The WTCS race will be based around ExCeL London in the Docklands, and it is free to watch.
Advice for First-Time Competitors
Rodolfi had some advice for those competing for the first time. “Take your time, pace yourselves, remember the water is your friend,” she said. “But the main thing is to enjoy it. The athletes are nervous and excited. Some have done it before and some are completely new to the sport. But because we work as a team, the ones that have done it before are supporting those that haven’t. It will be exhilarating, exciting, and encouraging.”
