World Triathlon's latest update to the study about women in coaching provides the most comprehensive picture to date of female triathlon coaches across the globe, revealing important insights into participation, leadership pathways, safeguarding, and the realities faced by women working in the sport. Building on the 2025 release of the Female Coaches in Triathlon Status Study and Development Plan, the 2026 update - which can be found here -  significantly expanded both the geographical reach and size of the research sample through the global Certification Revalidation process for coaches. The original 2025 study gathered 127 responses from female coaches across 55 countries. The updated study now includes 715 responses worldwide, with 336 female coaches and 378 male coaches contributing to the research, creating a much broader understanding of coaching experiences across the sport.

A More Accurate Picture of Female Triathlon Coaches

The study highlights that the typical female triathlon coach is experienced, highly engaged, and deeply involved in the sport. Globally, female coaches are typically around 42 years of age, have spent more than two decades involved in sport, and have approximately 14 years of experience in triathlon. Most were former national-level athletes and many continue to compete actively. The research also challenges several long-standing assumptions about women in coaching. Contrary to common perceptions, the majority of female coaches reported having no children, and many identified their greatest challenge not as balancing family responsibilities, but rather limited access to high-performance coaching opportunities. The findings suggest that gender stereotypes continue to influence how female coaches are perceived within sport. While female coaches are highly qualified through national certification systems, many have entered coaching through practical and experience-based pathways rather than formal academic coaching degrees.

Key Differences Between Female and Male Coaches

The comparison between female and male coaches revealed several notable differences across workload, opportunities, coaching environments, and perceptions of fairness.

Female coaches are more likely to -

• Coach predominantly female athletes
• Work primarily in person rather than remotely
• Spend fewer weekly hours coaching
• Deliver fewer annual training camps
• Perceive compensation as only partially fair

Male coaches, meanwhile, reported significantly greater weekly coaching hours and higher perceptions of fair compensation. One of the most striking findings related to gender treatment within coaching roles. Nearly half of female coaches reported either feeling treated differently because of their gender or being unsure if they had experienced gender-based differences. In comparison, the overwhelming majority of male coaches reported that they had not experienced differential treatment.

The study also identified differing priority challenges -

• Female coaches most frequently identified limited access to high-performance opportunities as their primary barrier
• Male coaches most commonly identified lack of mentorship and support

Developed vs Developing National Federations

The expanded female coach population also enabled World Triathlon to compare experiences between coaches from developed and developing National Federations.

Female coaches in developed federations generally -

• Had longer experience in both sport and triathlon
• Managed larger coaching squads
• Worked in more professionalised coaching environments
• Had greater access to formal education pathways

Meanwhile, coaches from developing federations were typically -

• Younger
• More likely to coach part-time while balancing additional employment
• Involved across multiple areas of triathlon administration and event delivery
• Faced broader structural and financial barriers

Despite these differences, both groups strongly identified mentorship programs, networking opportunities, and accessible coaching education as critical support needs.

Safeguarding Remains a Key Priority

The study update also placed a strong focus on safeguarding education and experiences within triathlon coaching. While safeguarding education levels were relatively high across both genders, the research found that male coaches reported greater involvement in safeguarding-related issues, likely reflecting their increased time spent coaching and involvement across multiple roles within the sport.

World Triathlon Development has identified safeguarding as a major priority area moving forward, with plans to -

• Make safeguarding education mandatory for coaches
• Close identified education gaps
• Further investigate the nature and causes of safeguarding-related experiences reported within the study

Turning Research into Action

The findings from the study are already shaping future initiatives across World Triathlon Development. A major focus will now continue to be increasing awareness around the realities faced by female coaches and addressing the gap between perception and lived experience.

This work will include -

• Ongoing publication and promotion of study findings
• Regular awareness campaigns across social media
• Presentations and discussions at international events
• Dedicated activities at the upcoming World Triathlon Congress in Pontevedra, Spain

Planned Congress activities include -

• National Federation discussion forums
• A keynote presentation on female participation in sport from Laureus Sport for Good Foundation
• A “Status and Perception of Female Triathlon Coaches” Coffee Talk
• A Female Coaching Workshop focused on sharing best practices between federations

Continuing the Journey

World Triathlon Development sees this study not as a conclusion, but as an evolving body of work designed to strengthen pathways, opportunities, and support systems for female coaches globally. The next phase of research will expand beyond development-level coaches to include those working within top-tier international events and high-performance environments, helping better understand whether experiences and challenges differ at the elite level.

The Women in Coaching Study continues to provide an important evidence base for future policy, education, and leadership initiatives — ensuring that female coaches are not only visible within triathlon, but fully supported to thrive and lead at every level of the sport.