For decades, Mirinda Carfrae and Tim O’Donnell raced at the highest level – chasing podiums, setting records, and collecting world championship titles around the globe. Along the way, they didn’t just become two of the sport’s most decorated athletes – they became two of its most beloved. With their tenacity, humility, and heart, they elevated triathlon and inspired a generation of athletes to dream bigger.
Today, standing just outside of the professional spotlight, their impact is only deepening. Because for these two champions, the finish line was not the end; it was simply the place where the next chapter began.
“Triathlon Gave Me My Life”
When Triathlon Magazine sat down with Mirinda Carfrae – known affectionately as Rinny – to reflect on her career, her answer was simple yet profound: “Triathlon gave me my life.”
Many remember Rinny for her four World Championship titles, her unforgettable comebacks along the legendary Queen K highway, and her triumphant finishes down Ali’i Drive – moments that cemented her as one of the sport’s true heroes. But for Rinny, while those achievements meant a great deal, what mattered more were the quiet gifts triathlon gave her: a sense of self, a life she loved, and the people who became her closest friends and family.
Rinny came from humble beginnings. “I grew up in a not very wealthy family. I was the fourth of six kids, and nothing was really expected of me,” she recalled. “And I never really expected anything of myself either…until I found triathlon.”
What began as a spark, a sport she was introduced to at the age of 19, quickly ignited into something transformational. “I felt like a nobody, not really doing anything special. Then all of a sudden, I stumbled upon this sport, so different from anything I had ever done before,” Rinny shared. “I knew immediately: this is what I want to pursue and this is what I’m going to put every ounce of everything into.”
The sport – and everything Rinny poured into it – propelled her from a quiet kid with low expectations into a world champion with an unshakeable spirit.
“Triathlon helped me find myself and become the person I am now,” Rinny continued. “Having big dreams, taking the steps to make them come to fruition, winning a few Konas, meeting my husband, and now having our kids – it truly gave me my life.”
This is why giving back means so much to Rinny. The sport gave her a life filled with purpose. Now, she is committed to paying it forward by helping shape the next generation of athletes through Salty Bears, the training community she and Tim run with the same passion and purpose they brought to their racing careers.
Salty Bears Racing: Built With Heart
In March 2023, alongside the public announcement of Rinny’s retirement, Tim and Rinny launched Salty Bears Racing. It’s a coaching endeavour rooted not only in performance, but in cultivating the same quiet gifts that made the sport so meaningful to them: confidence, community, and a sense of belonging.
When asked what Salty Bears is all about, Rinny describes it as an inclusive, welcoming space for athletes of all levels. “Salty Bears is for everyone,” she explains. “We have newcomers to the sport, athletes doing their first Ironman, athletes winning their age group, and aspiring pros. It’s really a community where yes going fast is important and breaking barriers is important, but what’s more important is bringing together like-minded people who enjoy this journey that is triathlon racing around the world.”
What truly sets Salty Bears apart isn’t just results, but presence. Tim and Rinny aren’t simply sending training plans from afar. They’re on the ground. They host regular team calls, training camps, and travel to local races and World Championships alike – not only to coach, but to be there: organizing pre-race meetups, delivering last-minute pep talks, cheering from the sidelines, and celebrating every finish line moment.
Their hands-on approach is what makes Salty Bears feel less like a coaching service and more like a family, as athlete McKenzie Wilson puts it.
And it’s remarkable: these two legends – athletes we once watched in awe on the world’s biggest stages – are still showing up, not as stars above the sport, but as teammates within it. In a world where champions often fade into the background, Tim and Rinny continue to lead with generosity and heart, turning their personal legacy into something much bigger than themselves.
Kristen Yax, a team member since Salty Bears’ inception, says it best: “Given their achievements in triathlon, it would be easy for Tim and Rinny to rest on their laurels. To just put their name on a coaching program, take a step back, and let others do the work for them. But taking the easy road is not what got them to the pinnacle of their athletic careers. And it’s definitely not part of the Salty Bears mentality.”
An Expanded Legacy in the Making
With such a storied career, Mirinda Carfrae stands among the most qualified coaches in the world of swim, bike, and run. She knows what it takes to reach the peak of the sport – how to build fitness, cultivate resilience, and deliver when it counts. But as she shared with us, her vision of coaching extends far beyond the podium.
“I want to coach the whole person – the human being,” she emphasized, noting that this was also a quality her longtime coach, Siri Lindley, deeply embodied.
“It’s not just about the programming – swim, bike, run – but about getting to know the person…and what lights them up and how to get the best out of each person. Some need tough love…others just need love,” she said, smiling. “I’ve found a lot of joy in coaching athletes to their dreams and showing them that their perceived ceiling is nothing more than a perceived ceiling and there’s much more that they can achieve.”
This holistic approach is the beating heart of Salty Bears. Strength coach Erin Carson, who has worked closely with both Tim and Rinny, sums it up beautifully:
“Tim and Rinny are some of the most authentic and caring people I know. Their professional contributions to the sport are well-documented, but their personal contributions will show in the relationships and success stories in a book that is currently being written.”
For those inspired to become part of this growing family, Salty Bears welcomes athletes of all levels to join the journey – to dream bigger, to find their tribe, and to help carry this torch forward alongside two of triathlon’s most beloved champions.
While coaching spots are currently available, athletes don’t need to receive personal coaching to join the team. Whether you’re coached elsewhere or self-guided, you’re still welcome to be part of the movement!
General membership ($350/year) offers access to the Salty Bears community including monthly team calls with Tim and Rinny, in-person team events and race meetups, exclusive training content (covering topics like nutrition, mindset, and performance), and a complementary Salty Bears tri suit or cycling kit plus team t-shirt. Members also gain access to the Salty Bears online store, training camps, social platforms, and partner discounts. Wherever you are in your journey, there’s a place for you here.
The post The Next Chapter of Champions: How Tim and Rinny Are Still Shaping Triathlon appeared first on Triathlon Magazine Canada.