Recently, it’s been difficult to keep up with the rapid influx of emerging talent in the triathlon world. It feels as though every week there is a new young gun phenom destined for their legacy to resemble that of Jan Frodeno or Daneila Ryf. Professional triathlon has evolved significantly in recent years, reaching new heights of intensity, competition, and popularity.
Aside from the technological advancements that enable athletes to transcend the assumed boundaries of human endurance, numerous global triathlon leagues (World Triathlon, Ironman, SuperTri) have undergone rebrands and expanded their calendars. As a result, there are more prestigious events than ever, not only offering larger prize purses, but also greater media exposure - which is crucial for marketability in today’s digital age.
Triathlon’s professional makeover now draws in a new generation of elite athletes, eager to begin a legacy.
New names are breaking old records and claiming new titles. The bar has never been higher, and the competition has never been so intense. With so many new faces, it’s hard to keep up with who’s who - so allow us to show you one of our favorite new pros: Meet Zack Cooper, our 6’5” Devo athlete from Great Britain.
Up until December 2023, Zack competed as an age-group triathlete. Within the last year, he quit his job at the cycling's world governing body (UCI) to pursue the dream of becoming a professional triathlete. Richard Laidlow, father of Sam Laidlow - a massive name in tri world as he became the 2023 World Champion last year in Nice, becoming the youngest triathlete to ever hold the title.
Zack qualified to compete in the professional ranks after his first races of the year at Ironman 70.3 Valencia and 70.3 Kraichgau. He went into it unsure of what the future held, but confident in his ability to commit to the process.
After swiftly recovering from a stress fracture, Zack made his pro debut at Challenge Roth, where he put up an incredibly impressive result finishing the full distance race in 13th place.
Making the jump from age-grouper to professional requires consistent performance in all three disciplines. Zack identifies the swim as an area for improvement, but other than that, he does not let his lack of professional experience shake the confidence he gained as an age-grouper.
"At Roth, I didn’t make a swim pack which meant I raced the same way as I did when I was an amateur: all by myself! Thinking back this actually meant that I stuck to my numbers and was patient leading to a decent execution. Should I get involved in pack dynamics then for sure I’ve got to be more tactical and that’s where pro racing gets interesting."
Following Roth, Zack planned to compete in Ironman Frankfurt, which serves as the Ironman European Championship, making it one of the most prestigious races on the Ironman calendar. Once again, he was toeing the start line with a stacked field of high-caliber athletes. Similar to Roth, this is one of the most competitive and electric full distance events someone could do. When deciding which races to compete in, Zack emphasizes how much values the experience as a whole, especially the atmosphere.
"The goal of becoming pro was to test myself against the best and I get hyped to race at the biggest events in the world. It’s not just the race itself but everything around it. Especially this year being part of the Devo Squad, I’ve really noticed the immense support from the TTL Nat’. Racing with a “let’s have some fun out there” mindset seems to work well for me and take the pressure off that I might have put myself under in the past. Up to now, I’ve chosen races that excite me and that’s been fuelled by wanting to discover new places. Been lucky to race in so many different locations but next year I might have to be more tactical when choosing my calendar should I want to get in the prize money."
Frankfurt was exactly what Zack was looking for. Unfortunately, the race did not go as planned. Slick roads took out many triathletes prepared to give it their all - including Zack.
"Coming through the 100km mark, I diverted from my line as another athlete started to widen their trajectory and wheels completely lost traction. [No one’s] fault, just a race circumstance that didn’t happen to go my way and in hindsight should have taken it slower."
Slick roads get the best of everyone - even pros! The road conditions were out of his control and unfortunately ended his race early. Upon reflection, Zack was very tuned into what he needs to focus on going forward - starting with the swim.
"More disappointing than the crash though is the swim. To put in bluntly, that performance wasn’t worthy of a pro start and I’m very mindful of that. Being so far back means I have no chance of ever appearing towards the front especially when group dynamics are so key. Got to find a method of unlocking my pool swimming in the open water and it’s mental more than anything else."
Zack’s first season as a pro has certainly presented him with some challenges, but he has the attitude and approach of a champion. It’s been incredibly exciting be a part of his journey and we have the utmost confidence that he will recover well and tear it up out there again soon!
"Few weeks of recovery now to let the wounds seal and then will devise a plan for the rest of the season but am definitely not done there!"
