Katie Zaferes opens up on competing while grieving and returning to the top after having a child
Katie Zaferes has revealed that she was contemplating whether she “was interested in the sport” anymore after her father passed away in the build-up to the Tokyo Olympics.
Talking to Adam Leitch for the latest episode of ‘Face to Face’ for The Super League Triathlon Podcast, the Olympic silver medalist and two-time Super League Championship Series winner admitted that it was a tough route back into the sport following the tragic news.
She said: “It was so unexpected for us. So when my dad passed away, I was in Spain and I just flew home. And when I flew home and when we were grieving, being with family, going to his funeral and everything, at that point, I didn’t care about triathlon. It was hard because it was at a time when it was April, and we had our next auto Olympic qualification in May in Yokohama.
“And so there was a weird contrast because I was grieving my dad while also realizing time was ticking to get back. But I was like, I don’t even know if I care anymore, and I just wanted to freeze and do nothing, you know?
“And then you realize, well, you can’t do nothing for the rest of your life just because your dad’s gone. It doesn’t work like that, and he wouldn’t want that. I just felt lost. But I realized, well, I’m going to have to get back at some point. I might as well do it right now.”
Zaferes also talks about the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris this year and admits that this will be her last Olympic cycle and has no ambition to race in Los Angeles in 2028.
She said: “Even though LA 2028 will be amazing and maybe I’ll find my way back in a more supportive role, but there’s no way I’m going to be there as an athlete, and like, I think part of that is just this transition in life. Going until 2024 even feels like extra time for me. After that, it’ll be time to do something different.”
Katie also talks about:
The unusual way she got into the sport
Her relationship with her coach, Joel Filliol
The difficulties of returning as an elite athlete after having a child
Her goals post-Paris
You can listen to the whole episode now or watch the episode in full on the Super League Triathlon YouTube channel.
