Triathletes

Sharing a love for competition, the school’s athletes dive into the positive influence of participating in triathlons

BY ALEXANDER BRAZDA AND FERNANDO LARGAESPADA, STAFF WRITERS

Motivated to conquer the finish lines ahead, triathletes across the country combine swimming, biking and running to complete their triathlons. The availability of flat surfaces and optimal weather give the city’s inhabitants the ability to fully compete. Through the versatility of triathlons, students at the school have maximized the popular sport to spend time towards physical and mental self-improvement. With competition in mind, the school’s athletes explore the city’s outdoors while putting time into developing various athletic skills. Hoping to promote healthy lifestyles, sophomore Sofia Rodriguez and senior Alexandre Chevalier share their experiences as young triathletes.

SOFIA RODRIGUEZ

Courtesy of Sofia Rodriguez

Inspired by her younger brother, sophomore Sofia Rodriguez began competing in triathlons in seventh grade. Visiting his practices allowed her to envision the team dynamic and understand the lifechanging benefits of joining a triathlon team.

“My sister has a strong work ethic and that can be shown through the effort she puts into excelling at triathlon,” brother Luis Rodriguez said.

Although the school does not have a triathlon team, Rodriguez trains and competes with Tri4Kidz, a triathlon team in Key Biscayne. Ever since she has become friends with her triathlon teammates, Rodriguez has felt even more excited and dedicated to spend her time playing the sport.

Remaining aware of her athletic strengths, her favorite portion of the race is swimming because she has been doing it the longest and the variety of swimming strokes makes it more entertaining for her. By gaining a lead in the swimming duration of the race, Rodriguez tries to maintain an advantage throughout the rest of the competition. However, since she has the least experience with competitive running, she focuses the most on running training so she can overall improve her race time.

Combining her intense training and athletic skills, Rodriguez has used triathlons as motivation to maintain a healthier lifestyle. In order to prepare for a race, she eats more nutritious foods to keep her energy levels up and stay hydrated.

“Triathlon has helped me better my mental health especially with COVID-19 and online schooling,” Rodriguez said. “I get to clear my mind for about an hour a day, allowing myself to be away from my laptop and stress.”

Rodriguez typically competes in six races a year, her best time in a race being about 30 minutes. While COVID-19 has prohibited the availability of races, she has maintained her athletic routine by training five days per week, from Monday through Thursday during the afternoon and on Saturday mornings. Her team dedicates one day every week to each segment of the race during the weekdays while they practice all three skills during the weekend.

“Sofia is a good triathlete because not only does she enjoy doing it, but she is always focused during her practices,” mother Lucia Ruiz said. “The best part is seeing her be happy while racing and spending time with her teammates.”

Rodriguez’s most notable wins were the Daytona challenge two years in a row in 2019 and 2020. Due to the high number of competitors, Rodriguez was excited with her accomplishments at the race, especially because the Daytona racetrack. In addition, she won multiple local triathlons and placed in the top five in the Meek and Mighty race in St. Petersburg in 2019.

“I really try my best to stay on top and give it my all so that I am happy with my results,” Rodriguez said. “The most important part for me is to enjoy racing and being with my team as well as doing the best that I can.”

ALEXANDRE CHEVALIER

Courtesy of Alexandre Chevalier

Maintaining his athleticism senior Alexandre Chevalier runs, swims and cycles all in one sport. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 quarantine in March 2020, Chevalier has displayed his athletic talents as a triathlete by training intensively and competing locally.

Chevalier’s cross country coach, Calvin Fotso, encouraged him to get into the sport because of his experience with competitive biking and running. Chevalier’s inner circle has continued to push him to take on triathlons. His father, who further signed him up for swimming competitions, motivated him to train in all three disciplines to build his skills as a triathlete.

Beyond competitions, he uses triathlons as a way to make memories with his closest friends. By training with senior Antione Hernandez, Chevalier has someone that makes practices more enjoyable and less lonely. Having people training with him and having fun while doing it is what motivates Chevalier to continue to thrive in the sport.

“I have been friends with him for very long, [and] it has always been my dream to do a triathlon. I asked him if he wanted to do a triathlon one day, [then] we trained together during quarantine and competed in a triathlon recently,” Hernandez said.

Receiving help from his close ones has led Chevalier to enjoy building his adrenaline and developing his techniques as a versatile athlete. On average, Chevalier trains about three hours a day by focusing on two disciplines per day — swimming and biking or biking and running — followed by foam rolling and stretching routines every night.

Emphasizing the importance of maintaining balance in his daily routine, a consistent diet is a significant portion of his training routine. Incorporating carbohydrates in the form of fruits, vegetables, pasta, rice and bread into his daily diet, he is energized enough to go out through his day and train.

When Chevalier gets tired of running, he either bikes or swims to get some rest and peace from running. As a triathlon athlete, Chevalier wants to overcome overtraining.

“Having variety in the practice is something that makes [the] sport even more enjoyable. Pushing myself to the limits and going fast is something [that] I enjoy,” Chevalier said.

Additionally, sleeping is also a vital part of Chevalier’s training. By sleeping eight to nine hours per day he makes sure he does not overtrain or get injured during the process. While the school does not have

triathlons, Chevalier is the captain of the cross country team, as he leads and organizes team practices. By being a part of the team Chevalier is able to build more endurance when running.

“I love triathlons because of its diversity. It is nice sometimes to not go running or cycling, but to go swimming instead. It gives you a choice,” Chevalier said.

Every week, Chevalier completes 25-30 miles running, 125-150 miles cycling and 3.5 milesswimming. Although he has only competed in one full triathlon — the Bill Bone Tropical Triathlon in Lake Worth, Fla. in October 2020 — he placed 3rd overall as a result of his rigorous training.

“Placing 3rd in my first competition ever was amazing. Everyone was shocked that a teen was on thepodium, o n his first race,” Chevalier said. “I was honestly shocked as well. I did not expect to be on the podium either. I was very pleased and happy with my result. [It was] something [that] I will never forget.”

All races have been canceled due to COVID-19 but Chevalier hopes to compete in an Ironman, a triathlon race which consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and 26.22 mile run, during his lifetime. He plans to continue participating in triathlons after it is safe to participate in one.

Viewing it as a way to destress, Chevalier enjoys the silence and peace of swimming, despite it often being considered the most difficult of the three disciplines. During a race, Chevalier’s best time was one hour and two minutes, with a breakdown of seven minutes swimming 750 meters, 33 minutes biking 20 kilometers and 18 minutes running five kilometers.

“The feeling of exhaustion, the adrenaline of competing and the satisfaction of winning all make pushing myself enjoyable,” Chevalier said.

Hoping to expand upon his healthy lifestyle, Chevalier will continue to develop his skills as an athlete as a hobby throughout college. Living a balanced life is a priority for Chevalier as he is excited to continue to work on both his mental and physical health as a triathlete.