After representing Australia on the world stage and achieving some of the sport’s highest honours, Olympian and Commonwealth Games medallist Sophie Linn has announced her retirement from professional triathlon, following a fitting finale at the 2025 World Triathlon Championships in Wollongong.
Born in Adelaide, Linn’s journey into triathlon began not in Australia, but during her college years in the United States, and just like many great sporting careers, it began almost by chance.
“I first got into triathlon in 2018,” Linn said.
“My roommate in college was racing for the US, and I was injured at the time and doing some swimming with her and she said, ‘maybe you should try triathlon’.
“So, I went and did a Continental Cup down in Sarasota, Florida, and I thought, okay, I’m actually not too bad at this.”
Her roommate’s coach, Ken Axford, soon became Sophie’s first coach, helping guide her through those early months in the sport.
From that first start line, Linn’s career would go on to reach extraordinary heights, including representing Australia at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and standing on top the podium at the 2025 World Triathlon Mixed Relay Championships in Hamburg early this year.
Reflecting on that gold medal-winning moment, Linn said it was one of her proudest.
“I think honestly, winning the Mixed Team Relay this year was the standout highlight of my career,” she said.
“We’d had a tough relay in Paris, and that was the next one I’d done since, it just felt like such a great redemption moment.
“Hamburg is such an amazing course, the crowds are incredible and it was so much fun to win there.”
Wollongong marked her final race, one that was both physically demanding and deeply rewarding.
“Finishing 18th in Wollongong marked my highest World Series finish individually,” she said.
“It was absolutely brutal out there with the winds and the hills, but it was so awesome to have my last race on such an incredible course, with a home crowd behind me.
“You really do feel the difference, racing at home, hearing people cheer for you by name, it was so special.”
Having decided earlier in the year that Wollongong would be her last race, Linn couldn’t have imagined a more fitting way to finish.
“After this year, I just felt like there were things I wanted to do outside of triathlon,” she said.
“As Wollongong got closer, it became apparent that it would be a really nice way to end my career, and I’m feeling really good about it, happy and satisfied with what I’ve achieved.
“I think it’s a privilege to be able to step away while you’re enjoying the sport and on your own terms.”
Looking back at her career, Linn expressed gratitude to the people who helped shape her career and her love for the sport.
“I definitely want to thank my coaches – Ken Axford, who coached me for my first couple of years, and Danielle Stefano, who’s guided me since 2021,” she said.
“They’ve both played a huge role in my journey, and of course, a big thank you to all my Australian teammates, it’s been such a privilege to line up with them, both individually and in relays.”
As she steps away from the professional circuit, Linn leaves behind not only a resume of remarkable achievements but also a sense of optimism for what’s to come for Australian triathlon.
“The team has such great momentum right now,” she said.
“I don’t think there’s been a team or a culture like this in a very long time and that’s really, really awesome so I’m super excited to see what they achieve next.”
From taking a chance on the sport in college to the Olympic stage, Sophie Linn’s journey has been one defined by resilience, passion, and pride in the green and gold.
As she closes this chapter, her words reflect the gratitude and grace of an athlete who gave her all to the sport she came to love.
“I couldn’t think of a better way to end my career,” Linn said.
“It’s been an incredible ride.”
