British Triathlon has introduced LeadHERship Tri, a new development initiative aimed at increasing the number of female coaches in the sport of triathlon.
The national governing body notes that triathlon is a sport founded on gender equity, but despite this, women remain underrepresented in triathlon coaching. As of October 2025, only 33% of British Triathlon-qualified coaches were female (936 out of 2,870). The disparity grows sharper at higher qualification levels:
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- Level 1: 37% female
- Level 2 Group: 31% female
- Level 2 Diploma/Personal: 28% female
LeadHERship Tri is positioned as a free, modular programme designed to offer flexibility. Rather than following a rigid curriculum, the initiative is tailored to individual coach requirements through a mix of online workshops, face-to-face sessions, and on-demand content. The programme also includes mentoring, peer networks, and shadowing opportunities.
Sarah Collings, Head of Workforce for British Triathlon, said “Women coaches are powerful role models who bring fresh perspectives that elevate athlete performance, boost participation – especially among girls and women – and make sport more inclusive and equitable.”
Collings added that the programme starts by asking participants what they want to achieve, allowing British Triathlon to coordinate specific interventions that seek to meet women where they are in their coaching journey.
British Triathlon is the national governing body for triathlon and multisport in Great Britain. It works alongside the home nations – Triathlon England, Triathlon Scotland, and Triathlon Cymru – to manage the sport from grassroots participation to elite performance.
The UK is currently home to several high-profile Olympic and Paralympic medallists, including Alex Yee, Georgia Taylor-Brown, and Beth Potter. The governing body stated that the new coaching initiative is part of a broader commitment to building a more diverse future for the sport and improving the environment for all participants in swim, bike, and run activities.
