In October, World Triathlon launched a new project in coach education for former elite athletes, providing an opportunity to transfer years of international racing experience into the development of the next generation of triathlon coaches. The inaugural 2026 Murcia World Triathlon Coaches Level 2 Course for (former) Elite Athletes took place in Spain from 24–28 October, bringing together eight former international athletes from across Europe and South America.
The initiative forms part of World Triathlon’s new fast-track pathway, which recognises the significant experience and knowledge former elite athletes bring to coaching. Rather than beginning at the entry level of the traditional coach education pathway, eligible former elite athletes can enter directly at Level 2, building on their extensive understanding of the sport and translating their competitive experience into effective coaching practice.
The project has been developed as part of the World Triathlon – Laureus Sport for Good Partnership, supporting opportunities for former athletes to remain connected to triathlon and contribute to the sport beyond their competitive careers.
“For years, athletes have given triathlon their best performances. Now World Triathlon is helping them give the sport something just as valuable: their knowledge. In October 2026, the CAR Murcia high performance centre in Spain (a huge thanks to the Spanish Triathlon Federation's support) hosted the 2026 Murcia World Triathlon Coaches Level 2 Course for (former) Elite Athletes, the first programme in TRI history designed specifically to support elite athletes as they move into coaching. The course recognises a simple truth. An athlete who has raced at the highest level carries an understanding of the sport that no textbook can teach, and no one else can pass on for them.
Elite athletes know what it means to prepare for a World Championship start line, manage the pressure of selection, recover from injury and setback, and work alongside coaches, support staff and teammates every day. That lived experience is a rare foundation for a coach. The course adds the structure to turn it into coaching practice: the methods, the reflection, and the skills to help others grow, whether in a local club, an age-group squad, a school programme or a national performance pathway.
Life after competition is one of the biggest transitions an athlete faces. By opening a dedicated door into coaching, World Triathlon is investing in athletes’ personal and professional development and making sure their expertise stays within the sport for years to come. Every athlete who becomes a coach has the potential to shape the next generation, in their own country and across their region.
This first edition marks the start of what World Triathlon hopes will become a lasting pathway from the blue carpet to a coaching role.”
Zita Csovelyak
Head of Membership Services & Development
From international competition to coaching
The inaugural course welcomed eight former elite athletes who have represented their National Federations at international level:
Esteban Basanta Fouz (ESP)
Igor Georgij Kozlovskij (LTU)
Andres Eduardo Diaz Marin (COL)
Carlos Javier Quinchara Forero (COL)
Romana Gajdosova (SVK)
Kaidi Kivioja (EST)
Željka Šaban Miličić (CRO)
Pamela Tastets (CHI)
Their collective experience across international competition provides a strong foundation for developing the next generation of coaches.
Putting performance testing into practice
As former elite athletes, the coaches did not need a focus on swim, bike and run basics. Instead the focus moved to establishing coaching soft skills and developing a process of transferring their knowlege. A key component of the course was the practical application of performance testing and the use of athlete data to inform coaching decisions. This practical work commenced in the pool, where lactate measurements were collected during a 7 x 200m test set. During the bike practical sessions, participants explored two different testing protocols: a power profile test and a ramp test. They then applied the results during the Bike Training Design Workshop, working with real-life data to establish training parameters and develop appropriate training sessions. Participants were challenged to design the testing parameters and use the resulting athlete data to develop an appropriate training programme.
These practical sessions provided an opportunity to connect physiological testing, performance analysis and programme design, reinforcing the importance of using objective data to guide training decisions.
Turning experience into expertise
While competing at the highest level provides athletes with an exceptional understanding of performance, transitioning into coaching requires additional knowledge and skills. The Level 2 programme supports this transition, helping former athletes develop their ability to plan, communicate, lead and guide athletes through their own sporting journeys. The week followed two threads. The first was the coaching arc - what good coaching looks like, and why there is no single version of it. The second was the transition itself, from athlete to coach - the soft skills, transferring knowlege to instruction and creating an environment their furute athletes will feel comfortable in. An online reflection journal ran through the whole week, prompting participants to connect each session with their own experience.
The fast-track pathway acknowledges the value of lived sporting experience while ensuring participants develop the coaching competencies required to support athletes in a structured and effective manner.
By creating opportunities for former elite athletes to move into coaching, World Triathlon aims to retain valuable sporting knowledge within the triathlon community, strengthen the global coaching workforce and support the continued development of the sport.
The inaugural Murcia course represents an important step in connecting elite athlete experience with the future of triathlon coaching.
