James Teagle
"Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we often might win, by fearing to attempt." - JAMES TEAGLE
James's Story
I first saw triathlon on TV and thought it looked incredible. But my actual introduction to the sport came from a difficult experience. I was a competitive swimmer growing up, training to qualify for Nationals and National Finals. When I was 15, a girl from my swimming club sadly passed away from sudden cardiac arrest. I didn’t know her well, as she was quite a bit older than me at the time, but as a club we were encouraged to take part in charity events in her memory.
One of those events was a triathlon at Loughborough University. I gave it a go, and from the start, I was hooked. After spending years in the pool, I loved the variety of cycling and running. It felt like a whole new challenge, and I knew I wanted to pursue it further.
Triathlon takes you to places you’d never otherwise explore, and the travel side of it has been incredible. I love racing, pushing myself to the limit and trying to get the most out of myself mentally and physically, but some of my best experiences have been the result of the places triathlon has taken me.
For the past nine years, I’ve been coaching at Scientific Triathlon, and it’s been an incredible journey. Right now, I’m coaching athletes with a range of ambitions from aiming to qualify for the Olympics, those targeting professional events and age-group athletes. Coaching gives me the chance to share what I’ve learned and help others succeed in the sport. There’s something special about seeing an athlete you coach achieve their goals, whether that’s qualifying for a major event, winning a race, or simply improving beyond what they thought was possible.
INSPIRATION:
I’ve met some exceptional people through training. Since moving to Cambridge from Leicester/Loughborough, I’ve trained with a lot of doctors who somehow balance incredibly demanding careers with elite-level endurance performance—some running 2:14 marathons while working full-time in medicine. Seeing that level of dedication and time management is hugely inspiring.


SEASON GOALS:
Win an Ironman
Qualify for the Ironman World Championships
Perform well at Worlds
Target wins at British 70.3 races and Leeds
GREATEST CHALLENGE: The biggest challenge I’ve faced in triathlon has been the financial side of the sport. Coming from a background where triathlon wasn’t part of my family, the cost of racing, travel, and equipment was a massive barrier. I worked hard to tackle this, and have built a successful coaching career alongside racing.
Another ongoing challenge is balancing everything—training, coaching, and personal life. Time is the hardest thing to manage, and I wouldn’t say I’ve fully figured it out yet, but I’m always working on it.
BEST RESULT TO DATE:
7th at Professional 70.3 World Championships 2023
1st at Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire 2023