13-Year-Old Triathlete Eshe Stockton is Breaking Barriers and Leading the Next Generation

Eshe Stockton doesn’t just race — she defies expectations.  

At just 12 years old, she skipped the kids’ division at the 2023 Boston Triathlon, instead lining up with teenagers and finishing third in the 19-and-under division. It was a moment that made headlines, but for Eshe, it was just another step toward a much bigger dream: competing in the Olympics. 

Now 13, Eshe is carving her own path in a sport where young Black girls rarely see themselves reflected. Inspired by trailblazers like Sika Henry, the first Black female professional triathlete, she’s not only chasing finish lines but also breaking barriers. 

“One of my main goals is to go to the Olympics,” Eshe (pronounced “ESH-ay”) told the Portsmith Times last summer during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.  

While she chases her Olympic dreams, Eshe also wants to inspire other youth athletes of color to participate in triathlon. In 2024, Eshe was a featured athlete as part of supertri's NXT Gen initiative, which celebrates, supports, and champions the next generation of triathletes, demonstrating supertri’s and USA Triathlon's commitment to shaping the future of triathlon. 

“I want to bring more diversity into the sport,” Eshe said in a video with supertri. “I’d like to inspire more kids to take on triathlons.” 

Eshe’s triathlon journey started early. Born in Brooklyn, New York, and growing up in Rhode Island, Eshe started swimming when she was 3 and then began racing USA Triathlon Splash and Dash events. Her mother, Anne Marie, herself a triathlete, introduced triathlon to Eshe and it didn’t take her long to catch the swim, bike and run bug.  

Her love for triathlon comes from a love of swimming, biking and running, in addition to the community of people.  

“I love interacting with people that love the sport too,” Eshe said in an interview with USA Triathlon. Now living in Arizona, she is currently training for her middle school’s track and field season, and looks forward to competing in a few triathlon events this summer. 

“We’ve never seen anyone like her...there hasn’t been someone her age who can compete at the level she does,” said Boston Triathlon Race Director, Michael O'Neil in an interview with The Boston Globe. 

For Eshe, triathlon is more than a lifestyle; the sport also represents a dream. With her dedication, talent and drive, she has a bright future in the sport, aspiring to stand atop the Olympic podium, earning gold and inspiring others along the way.  

As she continues to grow and push her limits, the world will be watching while she turns her dreams into reality. 

Feeling inspired? Learn more about USA Triathlon’s and the USA Triathlon Foundation’s support of Youth Triathlon here!