When I first met Erik Shantz five years ago, he was just beginning his journey into the world of triathlon. He was new to the sport but quickly became an active and enthusiastic member of Team Triumph, taking part in everything we had to offer—group swims, Zwift rides, personal coaching, and our Olympic Distance program. Watching him grow into the athlete he is today, and now representing Canada on the global stage, fills me with so much pride. His story is an inspiration to everyone in the triathlon community and shows what dedication and a dream can achieve.
Erik’s ambition to compete at the World Championships took root as he watched other members of Team Triumph qualify. Determined to join them, Erik worked hard, pushing his limits and refining his skills. Finally, last season, that dream came true when he secured his spot at the Esprit Triathlon. After a summer of focused training with our Olympic Distance group, he was ready to put all of that work to the test in Torremolinos, Spain!
Here’s Erik’s firsthand account of his incredible journey to the World Championships.
Last week, I had the honour of racing for Canada at the World Triathlon Championships in Torremolinos, Spain. After five years in triathlon, competing on this stage was a goal I’d been building toward. The chance to race against athletes from around the globe was surreal, and it was my first time travelling further than Montreal for a race!
Since I didn’t want to worry about transporting my bike across the Atlantic, I opted to rent one. I’m glad I did, as the day before my sprint race, I took the bike out for a practice ride in the rain and ended up slipping on unfamiliar roads, breaking the bike’s shifter. Thankfully, my injuries were just a bruise on the ribs—not enough to keep me out of the race! The rental shop quickly set me up with a new bike so I could still get some practice and be ready for race day.
Race Day
The sun was shining on race day, and though it was warm at 24 degrees, conditions were ideal. This was my first-ever race in the ocean, and with the strong winds, waves were quite a challenge. By the time my age group started, the swells were substantial, but they actually helped with sighting, as I could see the buoys clearly from the top of each wave! My swim ended up being longer than anticipated at 983 meters instead of the expected 750 meters—likely due to a mix of drifting buoys and the challenges of ocean swimming.
The bike course was draft-legal, a blessing given the windy conditions. Although I only managed to draft for about 6 kilometers, the bike portion flew by, and before I knew it, I was onto the run.
The run was along the beach, which made for a beautiful but hot course. Spectators lined the route, cheering us on with such energy that it helped me push through the final stretch. Running down the blue carpet to the finish was a big relief and a moment I’ll never forget.
While I didn’t post my best time, the race was a personal victory, full of firsts and learning experiences. The atmosphere, camaraderie, and competition left me feeling more motivated than ever to continue training and return to the Worlds someday.
One of the highlights was meeting other Team Canada athletes and hearing their stories. I even got to join the mixed relay—an event I’d highly recommend to anyone who competes at Worlds. It was a quick, intense race of 250 meters swimming, 6 kilometers biking, and 1.5 kilometers running, and it brought our team closer together as we cheered each other on.
Erik’s story is a testament to the dedication, resilience, and community spirit that defines Team Triumph. Erik, we are so proud of your journey and honored to have you represent our team and country on the world stage. Congratulations on an incredible race and an unforgettable experience—you inspire all of us to dream big and pursue our goals.
Julia Aimers
CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist
CSEP High-Performance Specialist
Certified Triathlon, Cycling, Yoga and Swimming Coach
USA Cycling Level 2 Coach
Training Peaks Accredited Coach
A year ago I could only tread water and had not run since childhood. With the amazing Virtual Olympic course, support, guidance, and tips from of all the folks at Team Triumph I've ended the season with my first Olympic distance triathlon under my belt and am hooked! Really looking forward to the 2025 season and even to the hard work over the winter to prepare. Karen Houle
I wanted to let you know that the Perth triathlon was a great experience, I somehow placed third in my age group! What a supportive group of participants (including Team Triumph athletes), cheering bystanders and volunteers.
Thanks to your swim lessons, I learned the technical basics and gained confidence to get back in the pool after decades. And it was really special doing this with Ann Laidlaw, my bestie for many years. We did a couple of additional swims with Kevin and Team Triumph people, also a great way to continue learning and practicing good technical form.
I will continue with lane swimming and who knows, maybe there's another triathlon in my future!
I love the accountability and the structure of the Virtual 70.3 Half Ironman training program. I don't think I would have gotten this far without the program. The accountability is huge for me!
Deborah Jackman