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Swim, pedal, run!

How tri star Isla Hedley turned her sporting passions into world titles

Two-time World Junior Cross Triathlon Champion Isla Hedley started her 2025 a little different to most. Avoiding the cold and dark January days in Scotland, she headed out to Aguilas for her first-ever training camp with Stirling University’s National Training Centre.

“It’s been amazing to get out doing long aerobic bike rides and swim in the sea at this time of year.

“Back home you’re always quite limited in the winter months and spend a lot of time training indoors,” she told us.

As Isla continues to progress through her sport and make a name for herself in the triathlon world, her training is ramping up. We sat down with the 19-year-old triathlete to chat through her journey, find out how she balances her sport with studies and ask where she’s headed next.

Calling in from sunny Aguilas, Isla shared that she has always been outdoorsy and enjoyed swimming in the sea at home in St Andrews from a young age.

“I joined my local swimming club, Step Rock A.S.C. when I was about 5 and then found my passion for running a couple of years later when I started doing parkruns.”

In 2014, Isla combined her two sports and competed in her first-ever multi-sport event – the aquathlon.

Over the next few years, she continued to run and swim competitively, and although she would cycle with her family on trips to Glentress a few times a year, Isla didn’t make the jump to triathlon until 2016.

“Once I did my first triathlon, I think I very quickly discovered how much I really love multi-discipline racing."

Isla represented Scotland as a Tristar 2 at 12 years old at the Inter-Regional Championships in England.

“I remember being so excited and proud to get my first Scotland suit,” she told us.

From there, Isla’s passion for the sport and for cycling in particular grew and grew.

“I got my first proper mountain bike in 2019 and entered a few mountain bike races, starting with a downhill race which was really fun.

“I came last, but it was such a fun experience.”

With her experience in XC and hill running and newfound passion for mountain biking, it seemed a no-brainer for Isla to try her hand at a cross-triathlon.

“Because cross triathlon is quite a niche sport, there aren’t a huge number of competitions throughout the year, so my first race was actually the World Championships in 2022.”

Not only was it Isla’s first cross-triathlon but also her first time racing abroad and for Great Britain.

“I think because everything about it was such a new experience, I really was going into it with very few expectations and just wanted to enjoy it.”

Despite this, however, Isla crossed the finish line in first place and was crowned World Junior Cross Triathlon Champion in her first-ever race. She returned the next year and did the same.

“Looking back that was such an invaluable experience. 

"It taught me so much about racing in different climates and just simple things like travelling with my bike.

“That has set me up really well for where I’m at now.”

Currently studying French at the University of Stirling, Isla shares that she feels incredibly grateful for the level of support she receives towards balancing her sport and studies.

“I feel very lucky to be in the position that I am with the University being so understanding and the National Triathlon Centre right on my doorstep.

“At this stage in my life, my sport ultimately comes first but I am very fortunate to be able to work towards my degree at the same time.”

So, what’s next for Isla? Looking ahead to the 2025 season, she expresses that she is still on a high from placing 12th at the Junior World Triathlon Championships back in October last year.

“It had been my goal for the entire year to qualify and do well.

“Because of the Olympics in the summer, it was pushed back and fell pretty late in the year, so it felt like a really long build-up.

“I won the trial which is also our British Championships so was delighted with that but also nervous at having to maintain that level of fitness for another 6 weeks until Worlds.”

Isla headed out to Torremolinos for the World Championships as part of Team GB, looking to improve on her 26th place in 2023.

“I was so pleased with my performance on race day. To place 12th in that field of athletes was an amazing feeling,” she told us.

“Being part of such a big GB team including all the elites, U23s and para-athletes was also just such an incredible experience in itself."

Looking ahead, Isla moves up from juniors to U23 this year and is ready for new challenges.

“Because I’m stepping up an age group and into Olympic distances, it’s really going to be a year of learning.

“I’d love to qualify for the U23 World Triathlon Championships and podium at the U23 World Cross Triathlon Championships, but I know that it’s going to be a lot tougher to get those big results

“There’s no harm in having challenging targets though.”

Long-term, Isla has her sights set on the Olympics.

“I was really inspired by Beth Potter’s performance in Paris last year.

“I feel really lucky to have someone like her to look up to and know that athletes from Scotland can be right at the top of the game.

“I have a lot of time to get there but that is definitely the end goal.”

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