An iron heart: Chasing a world record, 20-yr-old Renee races across continents

Panaji: Most people dream about doing one full-distance Ironman in their lifetime. Many who start don’t even finish. They crawl, stare at empty roads, shed tears, and then try again.

After all, it takes a special effort to do a 3.

8km swim, 180km bike ride and 42. 2km run for a total distance of 226. 2km, within a strict 17-hour time limit.Renee Noronha has gone through the grind three times, across three different continents. She’s just 20 and India’s youngest female Ironman. If the Mumbai girl with roots in Goa completes what she has started, she will have a world record to her name.“I want to become the youngest athlete to do an Ironman on six different continents,” Noronha, formerly a professional artistic gymnast, told TOI during a recent video call from London where she is currently based.

“The record belongs to Taeyoung Lee (United States), who was 21 years 167 days when he finished Ironman Korea in Sept last year. I am on track to set it at 21 years and 90 days.”

Noronha’s obsession with Ironman started at age 16, when she took part in the Ironman Kids event in Goa and topped her age group in 2022. At 18, when she was eligible to compete, she completed Ironman New Zealand, and a year later overcame the Ironman Hamburg hurdle.

Last month, at age 20, she stood victorious at Ironman Philippines in the 18-24 age category with a heroic finish time of 15:55:37, making her the youngest ever Indian to qualify for Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.“The race was tough in the Philippines. There were jellyfish (during the swim), and the ride was complicated due to extreme weather. It rained heavily during the bike ride and was extremely hot during the run.

I had to use ice buckets to cool down. The descents were difficult to manage. I had to be very safe on descents, because I didn’t want to risk getting injured.“So, when I finished the race, I was proud of myself. When I was announced as the winner in my age group, I was thrilled to qualify (for the world championship). I am the youngest, very few Indians have qualified for the world championship,” said Noronha, who is simultaneously pursuing a BSc in data science and applications from IIT Madras through distance learning.

The Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona is an unforgettable journey in the heart of triathlon's birthplace. It’s a test of willpower and endurance, universally considered the most prestigious event in endurance sports due to its historical status as the original Ironman, the strict qualification requirements, and the brutally challenging, iconic volcanic landscape.“Normally I do one race a year, but this year, I registered for three because of the world record.

Now I’ve qualified for Kona, that makes it four within a span of five months. Kona takes a lot of preparation because of the heat and elevation. It’s one of the toughest races,” said Noronha.Her calendar is packed for this year. There’s Ironman Canada-Ottawa (Aug 2), Ironman World Championship (Oct 10) and Ironman San Juan in Argentina on Nov 1. By next April, when she competes in Ironman South Africa, she should have the record of being the youngest to compete and finish the race across six continents.“I know it’s difficult, but it will be worth it,” said Noronha. “Through this effort, I can reach out to millions and make them believe they can achieve their dreams. Training and racing in an Ironman is expensive. I’m looking for support. If someone backs me, I can breathe easier.”