The Lakers are preparing for their inaugural “Empower Her to Tri” an initiative working to inspire more women to give triathlon a go and create a space for women in sport and triathlon to feel comfortable and push themselves into new environments.
Club President, Kate Rush, provided an insight into the intent behind the program and the need to address the participation gap for women in triathlon.
“In South Australia, less than 40% of the people who participated in triathlon last year (2025) were women,” she said.
Kate further went on to highlight how the Empower Her to Tri program endeavours to break down the stigma associated with the sport and reducing barriers.
“Challenges to women’s participation in any sport can include financial, work and community involvement, parenting and family commitments, and at times, clubs that do not proactively support women’s involvement,” she said.
“In addition, triathlon is a male dominated endurance sport that can sometimes feel overwhelming without the right level of support to get you involved.”
Kate further lamented her position around the aim of the program by highlighting that the sport isn’t tailored for just one person, it can cater for everyone, at every stage of their life depending on their interests and needs.
“In reality, triathlon is an all ages, highly engaging sport with a range of different race formats that cater for all abilities. You can even complete races as a team,” further alluding to the flexibility of the sport.
“The lifestyle rewards and sense of achievement can be life changing. The reward is incredibly worthwhile. It’s certainly a sport that has changed my life, particularly through involvement with the Lakers Triathlon Club,” Kate said recounting her own journey.
When talking about the initiative itself Kate emphasised the importance of using the clubs already established strong standing in the community to ensure that new participants feel welcome and safe to venture into new waters – quite literally.
“The Lakers have a commitment to be inclusive, social and competitive. Thanks to the Power of Her funding from the state government, the Club is now offering a free 8-week women’s specific program as a pathway into triathlon,” she explained.
The flexibility of the program allows women to attend sessions that work with their busy lifestyle whether it’s balancing work, motherhood or additional commitments with the end goal of course – competing in a triathlon.
“The ‘Empower Her to Tri’ initiative is designed to help you understand the sport, connect with a supportive community, and finish a triathlon in Moana in December 2026. Participants are offered 3-4 sessions per week, although there’s no expectation to attend every session.”
Despite all the physical benefits associated with being involved in the sport, one of the key takeaways from the program is encouraging participants to create new friendships and bonds within the triathlon community.
“All participants are connected to a Lakers club ‘buddy’, being women who have good experience in the sport, and can help you stay motivated and focussed on achieving your goals.”
The program is set to run over the next couple of months with women from across the state registering their interest to get involved.
Find out more information about the program.
