Women in Tri, The Blueprint: Changing the Race with Bianca Fernandez-Clark

Listeners meet Bianca Fernandez-Clark, a seven-time Ironman finisher, co-founder of Women in Tri UK, and a tireless advocate for inclusion in endurance sport. What begins as a conversation about one woman’s journey into triathlon quickly becomes something bigger. This is a story about learning to swim at 29, navigating start lines as a Black Latino woman, and transforming isolation into impact for hundreds of women who deserve to feel seen in triathlon.

Bianca did not grow up swimming or cycling. She entered the sport for her mental health and found herself in elite-focused spaces that did not always know what to do with a true beginner. Her first Ironman 70.3 was about making cutoffs rather than podiums. That experience as a beginner triathlete became the blueprint for change. After an unexpected opportunity to race at the Ironman World Championship in Kona, where she became the first Dominican athlete to compete, she realized that representation in triathlon matters more than most people understand. The visibility inspired others back home and clarified her mission moving forward.

That mission evolved into Women in Tri UK, a thriving community of more than 700 members. What began as financial support for first-timers has grown into mentorship, research, advocacy, and race partnerships that are shifting the landscape for women in triathlon. From pushing for larger swim caps to advocating for pregnancy deferrals and more inclusive race policies, the work is practical and powerful. This episode reminds us that triathlon is not only about splits and transitions. It is fundamentally about belonging.

If you have ever felt like the only one in the room or unsure of where you fit in the sport, this episode is for you. If you are a race director, coach, or teammate wondering how to build diversity and inclusion in triathlon, this conversation offers both heart and a blueprint. And if you are simply a beginner trying to figure it out one workout at a time, you will hear proof that your starting point can become someone else’s open door. Listen in, share with a training partner, and keep showing up. The sport grows stronger when more of us see ourselves at the start line.

Let’s tri this !

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