The World Triathlon Women’s Committee has announced the 2024 World Triathlon Women’s Committee Award of Excellence, which was presented at a gala dinner hosted by World Triathlon President Marisol Casado (IOC Member) in Torremolinos, Andalucía, Spain. The event coincided with the 2024 World Triathlon Championship Finals and the 2024 World Triathlon Age-Group and Aquabike World Championships, taking place this week

The World Triathlon Women’s Committee Award of Excellence is a prestigious honour recognising outstanding contributions to the advancement and empowerment of women in the sport of triathlon. This award celebrates individuals or organisations that have shown exceptional commitment to promoting gender equality, inspiring female participation, and creating opportunities for women to thrive in all areas of the sport, from athletes to leadership roles. By acknowledging these achievements, World Triathlon reaffirms its dedication to fostering an inclusive and diverse community where women can excel and make a lasting impact on the global triathlon landscape.

This year, World Triathlon selected and presented Sara Gross of the USA with the Women’s Committee Award of Excellence.

This year there were a variety of strong submissions featuring inspiring women from all around the world. The World Triathlon Women’s Committee alongside a panel of external experts, reviewed the submissions and confirmed USA’s Sara Gross as the winner of the 2024 World Triathlon Women’s Committee Award of Excellence.

Tomoko Wada, Chair of the World Triathlon Women’s Committee, was in Torremolinos to announce and present the award.

“I am very proud to present TRI Women’s Committee Award of Excellence to Dr. Sara Gross (USAT), on behalf of Women’s Committee this time for her excellent efforts and accomplishment in women’s well being and advancement of their participation. Particularly at the end of my forth and last term as Chair, I am thrilled to present a former ITU (International Triathlon Union) triathlete who continues her “feisty” and pro-active life developing into a great contributor for women’s empowerment through the media platform created by herself. She is a fantastic role model. Finally, I wish the Women’s Committee continued excellent work!” said Wada.

Sara Gross was unable to attend the Gala in person to accept the award; however, a virtual acceptance speech was shared during the dinner in the form of a video.

TRI: How proud are you and what does it mean to you to be nominated for and receive the 2024 World Triathlon Women’s Committee Award of Excellence?

SG: I am extremely proud and humbled to receive the 2024 World Triathlon Women’s Committee Award of Excellence. There are so many people who have worked very hard to advocate and make change for women and girls in our sport. I feel grateful to be among them and humbled to have been selected.

When I first started working as an advocate for women in triathlon, and later when I started Feisty Media, some people said I shouldn’t make gender equity my first priority. They argued that I was “capable of so much more” and that “Triathlon was already gender equal” and didn’t need to change.  Years later, knowing that Feisty Media has helped thousands of women, I’m so glad I didn’t listen.

TRI: What do you consider to be your greatest achievements when asked about making an impact, contributing to equality in sport and triathlon?

SG: When I first started focusing my attention on women in Triathlon, I advocated for women to have equal access at the IRONMAN World Championship. And while I am extremely proud to have contributed to that change, I am most proud of the work we have done at Feisty Media to educate women on getting the best out of their bodies. We no longer need to think of our physiology as something we “survive” or “put up with,” like our hormone cycles, pregnancy and menopause. Instead we can thrive, and even perform,  through all of these stages of life. This is an important aspect of creating gender equity that is often overlooked - it’s not just about having access to events and training - it’s about those environments being created with our needs in mind.

Women often approach me and my colleagues at Feisty to say thank you for sharing diverse stories and helping them celebrate some previously ignored aspect of womanhood. That’s the greatest reward, knowing you made a difference to many individuals in many different ways.

Nominated by USA Triathlon, Victoria Blumfield, CEO of USA Triathlon was present at the Gala event in Spain to receive the award on behalf of Sara Gross.
“On behalf of USA Triathlon, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Sara Gross for receiving the 2024 World Triathlon Women’s Committee Award of Excellence. As the CEO and founder of Feisty Media, Sara has been an unwavering champion for women, using her platform to uplift voices, challenge norms, and build community. Her leadership within the triathlon world is inspiring, and her dedication to advancing opportunities for women in our sport is unparalleled. We are proud to have her as a role model in our community, and this award is a testament to her tireless efforts. Congratulations, Sara!” said Victoria Brumfield, CEO of USA Triathlon.

It’s with great pleasure that I present the World Triathlon Women’s Committee Award of Excellence to Sara Gross,” concluded Tomoko Wada, Chair of the World Triathlon Women’s Committee.

World Triathlon is deeply committed to promoting gender balance and equality within the sport, ensuring that opportunities for participation, leadership, and recognition are equally available to all. By actively advocating for inclusivity, World Triathlon aims to break down barriers and set a global standard for gender equity. In celebrating the achievements of individuals who have made a positive and powerful impact on the sport, World Triathlon recognises the vital role these contributions play in shaping the future of triathlon, fostering a more diverse, inclusive, and inspiring community for generations to come.

Nominations for the 2025 Award of Excellence will open in the new year and National Federations are encouraged to submit their nominations.