FAST FIVE - JUNE 2022 - jAMES CAGLIARINI

James Cagliarini 
Melton, Victoria

‘Don’t look too far ahead. Set short term and challenging but achievable targets.’

This month, our Fast Five feature athlete is James Cagliarini. James has been a triathlete / endurance athlete for the past eight years, with the last 2.5 spent working with T:Zero and Coach Andrew Perry. 

During this time, James has completed multiple endurance events, including Ironman Port Macquarie (2016), Kangaroo Island (2017) and Cairns (2019, 2022), Ironman 70.3 Ballarat (2015), Geelong (2017), Murray Bridge (’17, ’18 and ’19), Murrayman (2022) and Melbourne (2022). 

James’ favourite distance is Ironman as he loves the mental challenge and the training (especially the long training days!). His favourite leg is the bike, where he enjoys riding for coffee and going fast. James’s main source of motivation is the challenge of continually trying to improve his times. 

Outside of triathlon, James enjoys watching any sport, but mainly following Liverpool in the Premier League, and the Western Bulldogs in the AFL. 

Looking forward to 2023, James has his sights set on Challenge Roth or Ironman Frankfurt. All the best, James! 

Why and how did you get into triathlon/endurance/multisport?
My PE teacher at school used to do Ironman triathlon and showed us a video of Marc Herremans finishing Kona in 2003 using just his arms. I told my teacher if he can do it with just his arms, I can do that one day. He laughed because I literally couldn’t swim!

Favourite race? Why? 
Port Macquarie (2016) (also James’ proudest triathlon moment). It was my first Ironman, and the day was horrible but so amazing.

Teams TT at nations 2021. We came second and to achieve that with some mates was unreal.

Since becoming a T:Zero athlete, what is the one new belief, behaviour, habit formed or skill honed that has most improved your athletic (or everyday) performance? 
That I can swim and to keep working on it, and something is better than nothing.

Any funny or embarrassing race/event memories or stories you’d like to share? 
Missing the clip in on the take off in the team’s TT and nackering myself.

What is your favourite motivational quote? 
Impossible is nothing.

And one more for good measure (and a big head) …
Why do you love being part of the T:Zero Multisport team?
The support and advice from the coaches and other members.