Two-Time Olympic Medalist Katie Zaferes to Lead AUXO Collective, USA Triathlon’s New Team Training Group in North Carolina

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Triathlon, in partnership with the United States Performance Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, today announced the creation of the AUXO Collective, a new high-performance U.S. triathlon development team based in North Carolina that will be led by two-time Olympic medalist, 2019 World Champion, and USA Triathlon Certified Coach, Katie Zaferes. 

Auxo — a Greek word meaning “growth” — sets the tone for this program. Featuring a daily group training environment, AUXO Collective will provide the foundation for up-and-coming U.S. triathletes to develop and chase their Olympic dreams. 

While the group will train primarily in Cary, North Carolina, through the collaboration with The US Performance Center, based on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, athletes will have access to world-leading professionals in sport psychology, nutrition, strength and rehabilitation, and testing services as they develop their triathlon skills to be competitive on the World Triathlon circuit. 

The AUXO Collective, while open to both male and female triathletes, will specialize in developing the next generation of women’s champions, complementing USA Triathlon’s Project Podium training group based out of Arizona State University that supports primarily college-aged elite male triathletes. 

Leading AUXO Collective is Zaferes, who retired from her professional triathlon career at the end of the 2024 season and was hired by USA Triathlon in her new role as High Performance Coach. She looks forward to translating her skills and experience on the course to coach the next generation of U.S. triathletes. 

“Triathlon has given me so much, and now I want to give back to this community through my experiences and observations at the highest level. I achieved more than I had ever thought possible in my triathlon career. I feel strongly that being in a daily training environment with an intense focus on skills was crucial to my success. Our goal at USA Triathlon is to provide multiple pathways to success so that athletes can choose an environment that suits their individual needs. My philosophy for this particular environment is to provide the athletes with all the necessary tools to aid in their progress mentally, emotionally, and physically as a triathlete, but also as a person. I see it as a place to build athletes into professionals and foster their growth and independence,” Zaferes said. 

Zaferes was first recruited to elite triathlon through the USA Triathlon Collegiate Recruitment program in 2011 when she was competing in cross country and track at NCAA Division I Syracuse University. After finishing her collegiate running career, Zaferes raced her first triathlon as a professional in 2013. She’d go on to race professionally for 11 years, highlighted by winning two Olympic medals in the individual triathlon and mixed relay at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, winning the 2019 World Championship title, twice winning the Super Triathlon Champion crown and earning 23 World Triathlon medals, including six wins. 

As an athlete, Zaferes was known for being well-rounded across the three-sport disciplines. Her consistency was exemplified by her climb, one spot at a time, through the World Triathlon Series rankings from fifth in 2015 to winning a World Championship in 2019. Zaferes has been thoroughly committed to the physical process while also developing her mental acumen, two skills she hopes to instill in her athletes. 

“Katie brings such a wealth of experience and knowledge to our coaching team and we are lucky to have her leading this new training group that will be supercharged by our ongoing partnership with the US Performance Center. The AUXO Collective fills a gap for young athletes, especially female athletes, pursuing the highest levels of world triathlon racing,” said Scott Schnitzspahn, USA Triathlon High Performance General Manager. Schnitzspahn went on to say, “This program will be the primary landing place for athletes who have been discovered through the Collegiate Recruitment Program, women who are post-NCAA eligible collegiate triathletes, and even High School Recruitment Program athletes who wish to pursue World Triathlon racing straight-away.” 

AUXO Collective has an open application for athletes who are currently in the development stages of their World Triathlon careers. Triathletes, or single-sport athletes with some experience in the other disciplines of triathlon, are encouraged to apply. The focus of this group is U.S. athletes between the ages of 18 and 25, however, there is the possibility of outliers. This is a daily training environment where athletes will be expected to relocate to North Carolina to be coached in person by Zaferes. 

For those who are interested in applying for the AUXO Collective, please complete the application here. 

For inquiries regarding the AUXO Collective please contact Coach Katie Zaferes at katie.zaferes@usatriathlon.org. 

About USA Triathlon 

USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon, paratriathlon, and indoor and virtual multisport events in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 3,500 events and races and connects with and supports more than 300,000 unique active members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Triathlon World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

About US Performance Center

The US Performance Center (USPC), located on the UNC Charlotte campus, is a premier facility dedicated to fostering athletic excellence. Through cutting-edge sports science, performance testing, and a strong network of partnerships with National Governing Bodies (NGBs), USPC has become a hub for top athletes seeking to elevate their performance. USPC is committed to expanding its impact on sports tourism and athlete development both locally and nationally. 

Triathlon Champion crown and earning 23 World Triathlon medals, including eight wins.