Triathlon

What was the USA Olympic team environment like in Tokyo?

US Olympic team's incredible camaraderie in Tokyo

The US Olympic team environment was like really incredible. It was so cool. Because even though like we obviously know each other and have been two races together. I mean summer Rappaport, Taylor nib Morgan Pearson Kevin and I we all have kind of different relationships with one another. Some that are closer where I like see summer a bit more now that she lives in our area. Kevin. I when I got started in Triathlon, he was at the Olympic Training Center, but like for me Morgan and Taylor like I didn't know. Them quite as well. And so leading into the Olympics. We were like really bonded and really had a really good sense of camaraderie leading into the mixed relay. And I think that made a huge difference. Just getting to know each other that week and have meals together. Go to training sessions together and just really, really have like big talk sessions where it's not just passing by as you're really focused on the race and not able to have time together in Tokyo. We actually had quite a bit of time before Before the Race happened.

The US Olympic team environment was really incredible. Even though the members of the team had different levels of familiarity with one another, everyone bonded leading up to the mixed relay race. This camaraderie made a big difference and allowed them to get to know each other better while they were in Tokyo.

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The environment of the US Olympic team in Tokyo was incredible. Despite knowing each other and having raced together before, there were varying levels of familiarity among the team members. Some of us had closer relationships, while others were less acquainted. However, leading up to the Olympics, we bonded and developed a strong sense of camaraderie, especially in preparation for the mixed relay event.

We spent time together, sharing meals and attending training sessions as a team. This allowed us to get to know each other better and have meaningful conversations. Unlike previous races where we were focused solely on the competition, in Tokyo, we had the opportunity to spend quality time together before the race took place. This bonding experience made a significant difference in our team dynamics and overall performance.

Father's Day Triathlon Kickstarted My Passion

The first triathlon I ever did was with my dad on Father's Day. It was right after I graduated from high school and it was just something I did with him. I thought it, I thought it was just I was the daughter out of my other two sisters. That was recruited to do it with him. And I thought it was something he wanted to do only to find out like years later that it was actually all like a ploy to get me involved in Triathlon because he thought it was something that I would be good at. So that was my first try. Athol on and it was one I just did with him annually every every year for a couple years until I got back into it after I graduated from college.

I did my first triathlon with my dad on Father's Day after I graduated high school. He wanted me to get involved in triathlons because he thought I would excel at it. After college, I got back into it and have been doing it annually ever since.

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I got started with triathlon through my dad. The first triathlon I ever did was on Father's Day, right after I graduated from high school. It was something I did with him, thinking I was the chosen daughter out of my sisters to participate. Little did I know, it was actually a ploy by my dad to get me involved in triathlon because he believed it was something I would excel at. So that was my first experience with triathlon, and I continued to do it annually with my dad for a couple of years until I got back into it after graduating from college.

Do you train during your family vacations?

Balancing Training and Family Vacations: How I Make the Most of Both

I do train during my family vacations, but depending on when they are, which is most often during a time that I'm able to go like there's a lot of family vacations that we've missed because they've been in the middle of the racing season and I just haven't been able to go at all, but if I am able to go to a family vacation, I do train but it's definitely not at the same intensity or level of the rest of the rest of my weeks of training. And I would say that I kind of manipulate things to be that I can spend the most time with my family or friends that were on vacation with. So whether that's getting stuff done really early in the morning or I really enjoy like doing like point to point. So, if I have a like bike or or a run using it to get from one destination to another is a way that I make it more fun and kind of make the most of my time. I also really like doing it with other people. So, So if that means like going on rides or runs with family and friends, that's always a fun part to me so training yes on family vacation but not not at the same level or commitment as I would in a normal training week.

I do train during family vacations, but usually not at the same intensity as normal training weeks. I make it more fun by doing point-to-point rides or runs and going with family and friends.

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I do train during my family vacations, but it depends on the timing. There have been many family vacations that I've missed because they fell in the middle of the racing season and I couldn't go. However, if I am able to join a family vacation, I still train, but not at the same intensity or level as my regular training weeks.

During family vacations, I prioritize spending time with my family or friends who are on vacation with me. I adjust my training schedule accordingly, often completing workouts early in the morning. I also find ways to make training more enjoyable and efficient, such as using biking or running as a means of transportation between destinations. I particularly enjoy training with others, so going on rides or runs with family and friends adds a fun element to my training during vacations.

In summary, I do incorporate training into my family vacations, but it's not as rigorous or committed as my regular training weeks. The focus is on balancing quality time with my loved ones while still maintaining some level of physical activity.

What was the biggest achievement of your career?

Olympic Medals Surpass World Championship for Career Triumph

Well, I would have said, I would have thought that my biggest achievement of my career would be 2019 world champion. However, I have to say, after getting a medal, getting, to Metals. It feels really good to have have those medals at the Olympics and I think I didn't expect for it how good it would feel and even more. So because of the adversity of this year, because of the lead of being anything but smooth and straight forward. So to be able to do that under under those conditions, I mean, it just felt felt so good and to have I mean, I always have had a great Community around me but against like have the so many people who picked me up and were there for me at like the lowest moments at the lowest performances and and then to be able to regroup and actually have like a really solid, not just one race at the Olympics, but two races, especially being part of, I mean that makes team relay debut in the Olympics. It's pretty historic. So so I would say the two Olympic medals.

My biggest achievement of my career is getting two Olympic medals in 2019, despite the adversity. It felt really good to have a great community around me at the lowest moments and then to be able to regroup and have two solid races, including being part of a historic team relay debut in the Olympics.

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The biggest achievement of my career would have been winning the 2019 World Championship. However, I have to say that getting two medals at the Olympics feels even more significant. It was unexpected how good it would feel, especially considering the adversity and challenges faced this year. To achieve this under difficult conditions was incredibly rewarding.

I've always had a great community supporting me, but having so many people lift me up during the lowest moments and performances meant a lot. To be able to regroup and perform well in not just one, but two races at the Olympics was a solid accomplishment. Additionally, being part of the historic debut of the team relay at the Olympics added to the significance of the achievement.

Overall, winning two Olympic medals stands out as the biggest achievement of my career.

Sharing the Joy of Success: Celebrating Victories with Loved Ones!

My favorite way to celebrate a good result, is really just with other people. Whether that be family and friends who were at the race or Tommy, my husband who is most often there. I just love having people there to kind of share the experience with. And it's also my favorite to when I have a bad race is to have that support network and then we'll often do like, go out for something good. That's local to where we are or Or I always enjoy like a good burger after race or ice cream.

I like to celebrate a good result with family and friends, and then sometimes we'll go out for something like a burger or ice cream.

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My preferred way to celebrate a good result is by sharing the experience with others. Having family and friends, especially my husband Tommy, who is usually there, makes the celebration even more special. It's wonderful to have a support network during both good and bad races. After a successful race, we often treat ourselves to something delicious from a local spot. Personally, I enjoy indulging in a good burger or treating myself to some ice cream.

What’s the hardest setback you’ve had to deal with?

Triathlete's Toughest Setback: Losing Dad Before Tokyo Olympics

The hardest setback that I've ever had is losing my dad. I lost my dad early early April in 2021 right before trying to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. And I mean my dad was such a such a part of my journey and Triathlon. He was the first person I ever did a triathlon with and he's been a part of that Journey, the whole way. So for me, losing my dad and just trying to regroup from that was was really really challenging especially in the List of qualifying for Tokyo, so that was that was really hard.

The hardest setback I've ever had was losing my dad early April 2021, right before trying to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. He had been part of my journey in Triathlon since I started and his loss was really hard to deal with.

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The hardest setback I've faced was the loss of my dad. It happened in early April 2021, right before my attempt to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. My dad played a significant role in my journey and passion for triathlon. He was the first person I ever did a triathlon with, and he supported me throughout the entire journey. Dealing with his loss and trying to regroup from that was incredibly challenging, especially while striving to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. It was a truly difficult time for me.

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Katie Zaferes