In March 2024, I set a certified world record as the fastest woman to complete six triathlons on six continents.
The challenge started at 3:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Sunday, March 3, and ended at approximately 6:30 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday, March 8. In less than six days, I completed six Olympic-distance triathlons around the world while traveling between continents entirely by airplane.
It was one of the hardest things I've ever done (and also one of the most fun).
The Original Goal
The original plan was even bigger: seven triathlons on seven continents in seven days.
I spent nearly a year preparing for the challenge. The logistics alone were insane. Flights had to align, strangers I'd met on the internet leading up had to follow through on their commitments to help, and there was very little margin for error. I was cold plunging weekly and did two practice swims in 32 degree lakes–one in Oregon and one in Canada.
About a month before the attempt began, we learned that the Antarctica race had lost its permit for the swim portion of the race due to concerns surrounding the avian influenza spreading to the continent. Without a permit, we were not allowed to fly into Antarctica and to go by boat would take weeks. On top of that, there was the guilt that if I did somehow sneak my way into Antarctica, I could be the person responsible for spreading the bird flu to the vulnerable penguin population who live there.
After months of preparation, I had a choice: cancel the project or adapt. I decided to switch plan to 6 continents in 6 days.
The Route
Over the course of six days, I completed Olympic-distance triathlons in:
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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Cascais, Portugal
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Tangier, Morocco
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Muscat, Oman
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Sydney, Australia
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Malibu, California
Each race consisted of:
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1.5-kilometer swim
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40-kilometer bike
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10-kilometer run
The races themselves were challenging, but the harder part was that while I was racing, I had to be thinking of the logistics of the race ahead. Who was picking me up from the airport, where was I going, how would I get a bike to the course, where would I store my belongings while I raced, would there be time for a shower before jumping on a plane and doing it all over again.
Plane Recovery
Most people imagine the hardest part was the racing, but that really wasn't it. Honestly, I kept my pace reasonable so that I wouldn't burn out so it was actually really fun to go for a 30 minute swim and bike around a new city for about 2 hours. The hardest part was always the run, but 6.2 miles is manageable and the worst of it was the blisters I got before hopping on another airplane where my feet would swell.
Outside of one planned hotel stay in Tangier (for about a 6 hour sleep) and one last-minute decision to get a hotel room in Muscat to nap in when I started feeling sick, I slept entirely on airplanes. Recovery consisted of airplane seats, quick meals, airport coffees, and constant movement.
Every day I had to wake up and race again regardless of how much sleep I had gotten or how my body felt.
Everything That Went Wrong
No world record attempt goes exactly as planned.
In Tangier, a car clipped me while I was riding through a roundabout. Thankfully, it was only a light tap that tipped my bike sideways, and I was able to catch myself before crashing. Later in the same race, I suffered a flat tire severe enough that I had to switch to a replacement bike in order to finish.
Then came Muscat.
It had rained the morning I arrived, which is unusual for Muscat, and the roads were flooded as a result. I had just completed my first three triathlons in Rio, Cascais, and Tangier, and the fatigue was starting to set in. I had a seven-hour flight from Paris to Muscat and had fully expected to sleep the entire way.
Instead, I made the mistake of accepting the after-dinner coffee that was offered with what was actually a pretty great meal of lamb, lentils, and a glass of wine. The coffee left me wide awake for most of the flight and I arrived in Oman exhausted.
At the same time, the reality of what I was attempting was beginning to sink in. When I started the challenge, I wasn't entirely sure I could pull it off. But with each successful race, the possibility of actually finishing became more real. So did the pressure. By that point, it felt like one missed flight, one logistical mistake, or one bad break could end the entire effort.
When I landed, I asked the volunteer who had picked me up from the airport to help me find a hotel near the course so I could get a few hours of sleep. What I didn't realize was that several people had taken the morning off work specifically to come out and race with me. I felt guilty for delaying things, especially because I was still surprised that complete strangers I had connected with before the event had actually shown up to support me.
Muscat ended up being one of my favorite stops. It was also the safest city I visited. Locals told me that people routinely reserve restaurant tables by leaving their wallets behind because theft is so uncommon. The day concluded with a Persian picnic hosted by the parents of the bike coach who had volunteered to ride with me, a reminder that some of the most memorable parts of the challenge had nothing to do with racing.
Then, just as I thought I was through the worst of it, another problem emerged.
While checking in for my flight to Sydney, I realized that I didn't have the visa required to enter Australia. With the clock ticking and the record attempt on the line, I scrambled to complete the application and secure approval at the last minute.
By that point, every obstacle felt magnified. There was no room for error. One missed flight could have ended the challenge entirely.
Proving the Record
Setting a record is one thing. Proving it is another.
The achievement was reviewed and certified by a USA Triathlon-certified race director.
To verify the record, I was required to submit extensive documentation from every race, including:
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GPS tracking data
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Photos and videos from the swim, bike, and run portions of each event
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Signatures from two witnesses in every country
The verification process ensured that every mile was completed and properly documented.
What I Learned
People often ask what I learned from the experience.
The biggest lesson is that success rarely looks the way you expect.
I trained for a year, but the record wasn't won because everything went according to plan. It was won because I kept adapting when things went wrong.
The route changed.
The races changed.
The travel plans changed.
I got hit by a car.
I switched bikes.
I almost missed a country because of a visa issue.
And yet, six days after starting in Rio, I crossed the finish line in Malibu and completed the challenge.
That's what endurance sports teach us. Progress isn't about perfect conditions. It's about continuing forward despite imperfect ones.
That lesson eventually became one of the inspirations behind Tortis.
Because whether you're training for your first race or chasing a world record, the journey is rarely linear. The athletes who succeed are the ones who learn how to keep going.
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