U.S. Olympic Triathlon Medalist Katie Zaferes Announces Retirement

One of the best to ever race triathlon is calling it a career.

Katie Zaferes, a two-time Olympic medalist and world champion, plans to retire after this weekend's Supertri race in Toulouse, France, she announced on Monday, Sept. 30.

“I’m finding that my heart isn’t in it like it needs to be,” Zaferes posted on her social media. “There’s a part of me that still wants to love it and wants to want it. However, the most telling part is that I’m ok with the fact that I don’t. Other things are starting to excite me more. While 11 years might seem short to some and long to others, for me it’s perfect.”

Zaferes, 35, is a two-time Olympian who won two Olympic medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. In Tokyo, she won individual bronze, plus silver in the Olympic debut of the Mixed Relay.

An All-American steeplechaser at Syracuse University, Zaferes started her elite triathlon career in 2013, transitioning to the sport through USA Triathlon's Collegiate Recruitment Program.

Following her first Olympic Games in Rio 2016, Zaferes became the top U.S. elite triathlete.

She finished third in the World Triathlon Series in 2017, second in 2018, and won the world championship in 2019. She remains the most recent U.S. woman or man to win the world championship.

She and her husband, Tommy Zaferes (a former professional triathlete) had their first child, a son, Kimble in July 2022. Zaferes then returned to competition in March 2023.

“Never say never, but at this point we are nearing the final stop on this particular journey and I truly did enjoy the ride,” Zaferes posted.