ON 14 OCTOBER 2023, LUCY CHARLES-BARCLAY PUT IN ARGUABLY THE FINEST PERFORMANCE THAT KONA HAS EVER WITNESSED, LEADING FROM GUN TO TAPE TO TAKE THAT MUCH SOUGHT-AFTER AND THOROUGHLY DESERVED WIN. HERE, WE CATCH UP WITH THE WOMAN OF THE DECADE TO CELEBRATE HER INCREDIBLE SUCCESS…
Words Tim Heming Image Korupt Vision
LUCY CHARLES-BARCLAY
She finally did it. After four consecutive runners-up finishes, the girl with the battle braids and a big dream from north London finally conquered the Big Island to become the third British triathlete to win the Ironman World Championship.
In following in the footsteps of four-time champ Chrissie Wellington (2007-09 and 2011) and Leanda Cave (2012), it wasn’t just the result that won respect, but the manner of the victory – cannon-to-tape, a new course record, and defeating arguably the best women’s field ever assembled.
What’s more, it was all delivered by training indoors in solitude for weeks in the build-up – “a bit like being in a lab” – according to husband and co-coach Reece, for one of the most committed and motivated race preps the sport is ever likely to witness (see p15 for more on their prep).
Thirtieth-birthday celebrations were swapped for uncorking the frustration of two injury-challenged years. Up at 5am, bed at 8pm, there were blips of course – including one major scare that threatened to ruin it all – but as an emotional Lucy Charles-Barclay said to 220 immediately post-race: “I really have dedicated my whole career to trying to win this race. It’s taken five attempts and I’ve finally done it. I really can’t believe it.”
The tributes to Lucy Charles-Barclay flowed like lava; the mashed metaphors of no more the Hawaiian bridesmaid but now Kona queen echoing on repeat, but there was one message that mattered the most.
In his round-up of people to thank for the success of Team Charles-Barclay, Reece’s long list culminated with a note to his wife: “I remember one of the very first times I saw you compete, just 18 years old at the time, in the national team finals against the best swimmers in the country. Our team desperately needed someone to ‘just’ compete in the 400 IM, otherwise we’d lose points. I vividly remember our swim coach saying to me as you walked up to the blocks: ‘She might not be better than all of those swimmers, but she has the heart of all of them combined.’
No-one knows Lucy better than Reece; her strengths, weaknesses, vulnerabilities that go f
