Chelsea Reilly Sodaro (born May 9, 1989, in San Luis Obispo, California) is an American professional triathlete. She won the Ironman World Championship in 2022.[1] [2]
After graduating from Davis High School in Davis, California, Sodaro attended University of California, Berkeley on an athletic scholarship. While at Cal, she earned All-American honors as a senior in cross-country and track. She ended her college career with a ninth-place finish in the women's 5000 meters at the 2012 NCAA Championships[3]
As a professional runner, Sodaro won two national titles. She won the USA 10 km road championships in 2012, in her debut at that distance.[4] At 2013 USATF Indoor Championships, she won the 3000m race, edging out Emily Infeld.[5] She was coached by fellow Cal alum and Olympian Magdalena Boulet.
In 2017, she transitioned from running to triathlon.[6]
In October 2022, Sodaro won the Ironman World Championship at Kona, Hawaii, becoming the first rookie world champion since Chrissie Wellington and first American woman to win since 1996.[2] It was the second Ironman distance triathlon of her career.