I initially started Podium Racing to build the best multi-sport coaching platform in the world. Then, when I learned that supertri was franchising their teams, I raised seed capital to purchase a team license. The goal was to create a winning, high performance team that would serve as a flywheel for the promotion and growth of the coaching platform while also giving next-generation athletes the opportunity to race at the highest level of the sport.
This was crystalized for me after having my initial conversation with Zuzana Michalickova (Slovakian athlete ranked top 50 in the world). During my conversation with Zuzana, she said she "will" race for supertri. Not, "can I" or " how can I" race for the Podium Racing supertri team...rather, a straightforward declaration that she will race for us. While I am positive that the directness was, in part, due to language translation issues, Zuzana's passion, focus and lazer-sharp motivation was clear.
As the conversation progressed, I learned that Zuzana did not have a wetsuit. While I appreciate Zuzana not letting equipment get in her way, I was shocked that an athlete would be competing in World Triathlon Cup events without the basic equipment that seemingly every other athlete, at that level, has. Within a week and with our sailfish partnership, we were able to get Zuzana a new Ultimate IPS Plus 3 wetsuit.
My interaction with Zuzana made it clear that our mission is bigger and was a motivating force behind launching Podium Foundation - the charitable arm of Podium Racing.
I have now come to realize that Podium Foundation is the most important part of our platform. Reducing barriers for next-generation athletes, including paratriathletes and neurodiverse athletes, is the most important impact we can have.
To that end, we have decided to donate a portion of the proceeds from all coaching fees, product sales (e.g. cycling kits), and team sponsorship funds to the foundation.
Our goal for 2025 is to find investors, partners and donors who share the belief that athletes who dream big and put in the work should be able to focus on the process and not on the finances.
https://lnkd.in/gfifnkbr
On this Giving Tuesday, please consider a donation to our charitable arm, Podium Foundation. We are committed to raising funds and providing grants to elite athletes such as Zuzana so that they can focus on "finding their podiums" and not on financials. As we start the next olympic cycle, focused on LA 2028, these next generation athletes have opportunities to represent the sport of triathlon in force!
✨ Donations can be made directly on the Podium Foundation website.
https://lnkd.in/eZ3DrpsR ✨
⭐️Zuzana Michalickova is a talented triathlete who recently earned a silver medal in the U23 World Championships in Spain. She is currently ranked #41 in the world and has the tenacity needed to dream big!