To celebrate International Women’s Day, World Triathlon is proud to recognise some of the incredible women who shape and strengthen our sport around the world.

Across this special series, we highlight women who embody the spirit of this year’s theme: Give to Gain. Through their leadership, mentorship and commitment to the global triathlon community, these women demonstrate that when we give our time, knowledge and support, we create opportunities for others to grow and thrive.

Because when we give, we gain. Together, we can help forge gender equality through abundant giving.

In this feature, we speak with Charlotte Bonin, an Olympian turned Paralympic guide and now a national coach with the Italian Triathlon Federation. Her journey through elite sport has given her a unique perspective on teamwork, leadership and the importance of guiding the next generation of athletes.

How did your journey from Olympian to Paralympic guide to national coach shape your philosophy?My journey, from athlete to guide and finally to coach, has been a profound path of personal growth and sporting evolution.

As an Olympic athlete, my focus was entirely on myself: my preparation, my performance and every detail I could control. I was almost like a machine, fine tuning every aspect in pursuit of the best possible result.

Once I had achieved my goals, life offered me a second sporting chapter. As a guide, I became the eyes of a visually impaired athlete, placing myself completely at her service so we could pursue excellence together. Our success no longer depended solely on physical and technical ability, but on the bond of trust we were able to build.

Through that experience, I discovered a human side of myself that I had never truly expressed in sport. I learned to shift the focus from “me” to “us,” tuning into another person’s needs and finding the synchronicity essential for performing at our best as a team.

After the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, and as the mother of a nearly two-year-old daughter, I felt it was time to allow my body to rest and step away from elite sport as an athlete and guide. But my passion for sport remained strong, so I began training as a coach.

Thanks to the support of FITRI and my sports group Fiamme Azzurre, I first became a coach in the para programme and later took on responsibility for the Under-23 programme. My goal now is to guide young athletes in the best possible way, offering them everything I learned throughout my career.

My coaching philosophy is rooted in empathy, trust and the belief that performance grows when the person behind the athlete is truly seen and supported.

What unique strengths do women bring to coaching high-performance athletes?
I believe women coaches can bring great value through their sensitivity and empathy.

This does not mean women are weaker or more permissive. Instead, they are often able to take a broader perspective, caring for the athlete as a whole person while balancing both the human dimension and performance needs.

Women also tend to have strong listening and communication skills, which help create deep bonds of trust with athletes and with the wider team. This can foster a calm and effective working environment where athletes feel supported and understood.

From my own experiences as an athlete, guide and now coach, I have learned to recognise emotional signals and manage them with care, always with the aim of supporting and enhancing performance.

How can sport create clearer pathways for female coaches?
Sport can create clearer pathways for female coaches by focusing on visibility and access to education.

When more women are seen in technical and leadership roles, younger generations begin to recognise that this path is possible for them too. Role models are incredibly powerful.

At the same time, accessible and well-structured education programmes can give women the tools they need to grow and establish themselves in the coaching world, making the pathway less fragmented and more transparent.

It is also important to build inclusive working environments where skills are recognised regardless of gender, and where personal life elements, such as motherhood, are respected and integrated with flexibility rather than becoming obstacles.

What motivates you most when mentoring the next generation?
For me, sport has always been a true school of life, and what motivates me most is the opportunity to pass on everything it has taught me.

Sport teaches discipline, organisation and the ability to believe in yourself even in the most difficult moments. Throughout my career I experienced great successes, but also setbacks that became valuable lessons and helped me grow.

My goal now is to inspire young athletes and help them understand that with commitment and consistency they can achieve their goals. The path will often be steep and challenging, but that is exactly what makes the final result even more rewarding.

This International Women’s Day, World Triathlon celebrates the women who continue to shape our sport through leadership, mentorship and action. Because when one woman gives, the entire community gains.

Across this series, led by World Triathlon and the World Triathlon Women’s Committee, we celebrate the women whose contributions continue to shape a more inclusive, supportive and equitable future for triathlon worldwide.