When Shaye Hatty first moved to Darwin from New South Wales in 2006, she never imagined that she would eventually represent Australia in triathlon.
A seasoned marathon runner, Shaye’s introduction to the sport came by way of her husband, who joined the local triathlon club.
As someone who was already passionate about running, she saw triathlon as an ideal way to cross-train. What she didn’t anticipate, though, was how much it would come to shape her life.
“My background is running,” Hatty said.
“When I first moved to the territory, my husband was a swimmer, so he got involved in swimming, and from there, it was the tri club.
“I was doing a lot of running, and I thought triathlon would be a really good cross-training idea. Yeah, so I did that, and that’s initially how I got into it.”
Despite the initial challenges, Shaye soon discovered a love for the sport and dedicated herself to becoming better in all three disciplines.
“I just started out like all triathletes do, couldn’t swim, no swimming background, didn’t have a bike, was on a mountain bike,” she said.
“Then I really fell in love with it.
“I got really serious about training and everything I do, I try to do really well.
“So I just threw myself into swim set training and cycling, and I got some really good coaches up here to help me.”
Her dedication paid off and before long, she was competing at the highest levels and even represented Australia for her age group in long-course triathlon events, including Ironman.
She’s since participated in ultra-distance races, and her journey from a beginner with no swimming background to an accomplished triathlete is a testament to her perseverance and passion for the sport.
“The swim was my biggest challenge,” Hatty said.
Despite these struggles, she pushed through and learned the ropes of swimming, eventually conquering the challenge.
Looking back, one of her most memorable experiences in triathlon was competing in the long-course triathlon in Spain, where she proudly represented her country.
“When I represented Australia in Spain at the long course, that was probably my biggest personal highlight,” she said.
“And probably my first Ironman, which I did in New Zealand with a friend – those two big races stand out.”
This year, Shaye has taken her passion for triathlon and used it to encourage and inspire other women, especially around International Women’s Day.
Through her gym, Fernwood Darwin, Shaye has been helping to run a women-only Aquathlon Series in Nightcliff and Swell Palmerston – aimed at introducing more women to the sport and offering them a supportive, non-intimidating environment to challenge themselves.
“It’s just getting them outside, outdoors, and sponsoring something as women-only,” she said.
“Triathlon can be a little bit overwhelming, and I think when it’s women-only, and beginners, they all rock up and are in the same boat.”
These events are particularly close to Shaye’s heart, as they provide a supportive, non-intimidating environment for women of all skill levels.
During the events, she takes an active role in calming nerves and offering encouragement to those who are new to the sport.
“In our first session last week I did this great big warm-up,” she said.
“It was just a five-minute aerobic class, essentially, but they were all so nervous and that just helped ease everyone’s nerves.”
Shaye’s experience of helping others—especially women—overcome their fears is a key part of what makes triathlon so meaningful for her.
Whether it’s calming the nerves of a swimmer before their race or cheering someone on during the run, Shaye understands the value of encouragement in a sport that can be daunting for beginners.
“Some women couldn’t even swim at the beginning,” she said.
“There were women that had pool fins and noodles, but I just encouraged them, saying, ‘Look, girls, whatever it takes. Just have a go.’”
“We had strong swimmers, and then we had those who were more comfortable running but not cycling.
“Everyone was just encouraging each other, and there were partners and husbands down there. It was really, really lovely.”
As Shaye looks ahead to 2025, her goals are just as ambitious as ever.
From marathons to multi-day mountain races and even a trek through Mont Blanc, her passion for pushing herself and supporting others in the sport remains unwavering.
“My training buddies, all diverse backgrounds but same goals and ambitions… they inspire me,” she said.
For anyone looking to get started in triathlon, Shaye’s advice is simple,
“Just focus on what you want, what sort of training you want to do, and find your people,” she said.”
If you are interested in getting involved in the next Women Aquathlon at Swell Palmerston on March 14, head to https://triathlonaustralia.justgo.com/workbench/public/events?ref=891B37C2DBA2994CFDD0A4392BA9A7B4D2CD1343 to find out more.
