On this week’s show, Haley and Alyssa are speaking with retired professional triathlete Chantell Widney. Chantell began her athletic career as a cross country runner, and found triathlon in her mid-twenties, winning the first race she entered and quickly making her way onto the ITU racing scene.

Chantell tells us about the challenges of racing on the ITU circuit without the support of Triathlon Canada, and how this pushed her to move into the world of off-road racing. Despite her lack of experience on a mountain bike, Chantell dove head-on into this new discipline and found quick success. In 2013 she earned a third place finish at the Cross Triathlon World Championships, and rounded out the season with another handful of podium finishes. A serious injury in 2014 forced Chantell to retire from racing, and she talks us through the mental and emotional struggles that came with her unexpected exit from the sport.

After her retirement, Chantell went on to study Indigenous Resilience Through Traditional Storytelling in Edmonton, Alberta, and she tells us how these studies are helping her to tell the stories of her ancestors from the Champagne Aishihik First Nation in the Yukon. Chantell also found the world of gravel cycling this year, and she gives us the scoop on all of the great riding around her home in Edmonton.

We’re sending out a big congratulations to all of the Outspoken Women in Triathlon Awards nominees and finalists - and a special shoutout to Alyssa who is a finalist for the Athlete of the year award. Sign up to attend the virtual awards ceremony on Sunday November 15th at www.outspokensummit.com/awards.

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