Sara Perez’s T100 & World Triathlon One-Day Double Podium–and Why the Internet Didn’t Like It.

Photo: Professional Triathletes Organisation/ T100

With only three hours between the World Triathlon Para Championships and T100 Wollongong, Spain’s Sara Perez did what only a top professional athlete would dare to dream of: a double podium. In the morning, Perez guided multiple world champion and Paralympian Susanna Rodriguez to her seventh world title. Three hours later, Perez had her best performance at a T100 race, leading out of the water and eventually finishing third. (Perez represented Spain at the 2004 Olympics as a swimmer, so it’s hardly a surprise to see her at the front of the swim pack in Wollongong.)

After making history with Rodriguez, then turning around to a career-best individual triathlon performance, Perez was visibly overwhelmed with happiness crossing the T100 finish line. But, while fellow competitors hugged her and the crowds cheered for her incredible performance, the internet had something else to say. A video of her crossing the finish line garnered a ridiculous amount of negative comments and trolling criticism aimed at her choice of race attire. Perez always chooses to race in a swimsuit-style suit – something very common in triathlon, especially for short distance athletes which is her background – and the pronounced visibility of the cycling chamois became the headline. 

After racing in the mixed relay and guiding Rodriguez to fourth the next day, Perez showed her professionalism, class and strength, addressing the comments on social media head on. 

“The truth is that luckily I grew up with good self-esteem and self-confidence, I don’t care what other people think, only what the people who love me think. It’s true that these comments can do a lot of damage, but it really makes me laugh. I wear a chubby pad because I don’t want my parts to suffer and I like the colour of my swimsuit and I wear a swimsuit because I want to and I like it. No matter what anyone says, I will continue to wear it proudly and whoever doesn’t like it can solve their own problem. I’ve been wearing this swimsuit for a while now, I wonder why nobody said anything before?”

One hopes the internet trolls then crawled back into the hole from which they came (and where they belong). Regardless, Perez’s incredible performance lives on in the history books.

Slowtwitch: You just raced back-to-back! How was it? 

Sara Perez: The truth is that when I saw that I was on the start list and knew that Susana’s race was a few hours earlier, it seemed a little crazy to me, but I couldn’t miss this opportunity. What was the worst that could happen? That I would die a little more than usual? Who cares. I already know what it’s like, so I wanted to enjoy competing in one of the most prestigious circuits there is. 

Was it always the plan to do both races?

Yes, when I saw that the T100 Wollongong was coming up and it coincided with the paratriathlon, I asked Susana if she minded me running both, since we had the relay the next day, and of course she said I could compete! My federation didn’t object either, so off we went on this crazy adventure.

How did you start guiding, and when did you meet Susana?

I met Susana almost 10 years ago when she first asked me to be her guide. At that time, I was just starting out in international triathlons and couldn’t do both, so it wasn’t possible. The year before Paris, her guide had a commitment and couldn’t compete in the Spanish championship, so I offered to help her so that she could take advantage of a good test before the world championship, which was the following week. A month later, she asked me if I wanted to accompany her to Paris because she got on very well with me, and we started working together.

Perez and Rodriguez compete at the World Triathlon Para Series Montreal in 2024.

Take us through the World Triathlon Para Championships race and how it felt to win together?

The race went pretty well. Susana had had a bit of bronchitis in the days leading up to it and had been coughing and feeling a bit short of breath, so I told her we had to be alert and focused so as not to make any mistakes. We did well in the swim, as well as in T1, which is more complicated for the totally blind. 

When we got on the tandem, she was so excited that she didn’t wait for my signal to start pedalling and ended up falling to the ground, but we quickly got back on and refocused on the bike. The circuit was tough, so we had to pace ourselves and go a little harder on the uphill section. We managed to extend our lead, so that was great.

The running circuit also had a few small hills, and I really enjoyed seeing her push herself and control her pace so she wouldn’t get out of breath and start coughing. 

The feeling of being able to help her is difficult to explain because I know she had a few difficult days and, knowing that thanks to my help she can give 100 percent is very rewarding. I also admire her a lot as an athlete and she always ends up surprising me and I learn a lot from her.

You only had three hours in between races. What did you do and did you have any special considerations with the short time gap?

Well, I ate a container of rice with egg and a recovery bar while I moved my legs a little on the rollers. Then I went to the flat to take a shower, lay down on the bed for 10 minutes (the race knocked me out!) and started packing my rucksack and enjoyed a nice cup of coffee. Then I went back to the competition area where I tried to stretch a little. 

Did you have any goals for T100?

My expectations weren’t high because I didn’t know how I would respond, and I knew I would get little sleep and wouldn’t have time to rest between races, so my main goal was to enjoy the race and see how I felt.

Take us through your T100 race.

It was much better than I could have imagined. The swim went well, I came out in the lead and had a good T1. On the bike, my legs were really hurting from the first few kilometres, but I hung in there as best I could, trying to trick my mind by thinking of short stretches. That said, the last two laps felt like they lasted forever. Despite my legs being completely destroyed, the run was the part I enjoyed the most. I had my best run ever and felt strong. I was expecting a big explosion, but it didn’t come. It seemed surreal to me to be fighting for the podium, and I didn’t quite believe it.

And congratulations on your first T100 podium. How does that feel?

Well, honestly, I don’t know what to say … We all dream of having the race of our lives, but I never imagined it would be in Wollongong. We never dreamt of being on the T100 podium, so I’m very happy and excited because, for me, this is the reward for the last 10 years. 

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