Following the release of the Female Coaches in Triathlon – Status Study and Development Plan (2025), World Triathlon is proud to shine a light on the importance of women in coaching. The study provides a clear picture of both progress and persistent challenges, underscoring the need for greater opportunities, visibility, and support for women across all levels of triathlon.
What stands out most is not only the data, but also the difficulty in finding women’s voices to feature in this very article. That silence speaks volumes. The underrepresentation of women in coaching is not just about numbers on a page — it reflects real gaps in pathways, recognition, and confidence that prevent many from stepping into or remaining in coaching roles.
Women as Nurturers
Women have a natural instinct to nurture, guide, and educate. From the earliest moments of a child’s life, mothers respond to cries, encourage first steps, provide food and care, and teach the lessons that help a child grow into adulthood. These everyday acts of patience and resilience shape future generations, instilling empathy, discipline, and the skills needed to navigate the challenges of life.
The patience women show as mothers and the attention to detail for the success of others is outstanding.
Yet when the setting shifts from the home to the sporting field, this same confidence in nurturing others clearly falls away. Many women are less likely to feel adequate in stepping into coaching roles, despite possessing qualities — teaching, supporting, motivating — that lie at the very heart of effective coaching. It is a striking mismatch, and one that the triathlon coaching culture must address.
The Current Landscape
The Status Study highlights that women remain a small minority in triathlon coaching worldwide. Despite the steady growth in participation of women athletes at every level, the pathway into coaching remains uneven. The barriers are clear:
- Lack of visibility of female role models in high-performance environments.
- Structural challenges in coach education and hiring practices.
- Limited support for balancing coaching careers with other professional or family responsibilities.
These findings mirror trends seen across many sports, but all still have significant work ahead.
Why Representation Matters
When women coach, their impact extends far beyond medals and results. They bring different perspectives, serve as role models, and create environments where all athletes — especially young women — feel seen and supported. Just as mothers help children navigate life, women coaches can guide athletes through the challenges of sport with empathy, resilience, and vision. Without these voices, the sport risks losing valuable diversity of thought and innovation.
Building the Women’s Coaching Network
The World Triathlon Development and Education team, following this study on women in coaching, have highlighted practical steps to change this. These include expanding coach education opportunities, creating mentorship and peer-support networks, and working with National Federations to ensure women have equitable access to high-performance pathways.
These steps aren’t just about fairness; it’s about building a stronger, more sustainable sport. A coaching community that values women’s natural strengths in guiding, teaching, and nurturing will unlock better ideas, stronger connections, and a future where every athlete sees themselves reflected in those who lead.
World Triathlon recognises not only the challenge ahead, but also the opportunity it presents. While women’s voices in coaching may be less visible today, this is precisely why the Status Study and Development Plan is so important. By strengthening pathways, increasing visibility, and fostering leadership for female coaches, triathlon can build a coaching landscape that is more complete, representative, and fully developed.
