In sport, defining moments can happen in races – or in the choices that quietly yet powerfully shift an athlete’s entire trajectory.
For 21-year-old Canadian triathlete Mathis Beaulieu, one such moment came in mid-January, via an Instagram video call from Cuba, when he reached out to a coach he barely knew and asked for help.
What followed was not just a return to training – it was the beginning of a transformation.
Breaking Down to Rebuild
Parker Spencer, head coach of USA Triathlon’s Project Podium, had known about Beaulieu long before that Instagram call. “I always knew how talented Mathis was,” Spencer said. “I never wanted him to have a bad race, of course, but I always wanted my guys to beat him – because beating Mathis meant something. It was a benchmark.”
But by the end of 2024, Beaulieu had fallen out of rhythm. After relocating to Spain, he found himself in an environment that simply was not the right fit. “We were in Valencia for a World Cup and that’s when I started to catch wind that he was not in a mentally or physically healthy spot,” said Spencer.
At the U23 World Championships in Torremolinos-Andalucia later that year, Beaulieu started strong, finishing the bike with the front pack. “I thought game over, he’s going to win,” Spencer said. “But then he stepped off the course, right by me. He was upset, holding his leg. I asked what was going on, and he said he’d been injured for seven months. I asked if he was getting any help. He said no. And he walked off.”
Spencer saw not only unrealized potential, but a young athlete in need of a reset. “I told him later that day, ‘If you ever want help, reach out.’”
And approximately three months later, Beaulieu did.
He was injured and unable to train. His knee had been hurting for months. “I asked if he’d had an MRI,” recalls Spencer. “He said no. I asked how soon he could come to the U.S. He said, ‘Tomorrow, but it might be hard to get a plane ticket last minute.’”
Spencer did not hesitate. “I bought him a plane ticket, picked him up from the airport, and took him straight for an MRI.”
With access to Project Podium’s physiotherapy and rehabilitation team and a structured return-to-run plan, Beaulieu gradually rebuilt his training. “He had been running only 35 kilometers per week before – that was all his body could handle,” said Spencer. “Now that he’s healthy, we’re able to train consistently and build a much bigger base.”
Just seven months after joining Project Podium, Beaulieu delivered a breakthrough performance at the Montreal World Triathlon Cup, running 14:21 for 5km – the fastest of the day – to secure a commanding victory over a strong field that included American Olympian Morgan Pearson.
“That 14:21 in Montreal? That’s just the beginning,” Spencer said. “He’s healthy. He’s training better than ever. We’re starting to see what he’s capable of, and I’m incredibly proud of him – but there’s absolutely more to come.”
A week later, Beaulieu made his debut in the high-intensity Supertri series in Toronto, and delivered a performance that matched the pace and pressure of the format. “Mathis killed it in Toronto,” Spencer said. “This is my third season with Supertri. I’ve thrown guys into it before and it was clear they weren’t ready. But Mathis? He was right in the mix with the legends like Alex Yee. He belongs there now.”
A New Chapter
For Beaulieu, joining Project Podium represented more than a path to recovery. It was a chance to begin again. He left behind a familiar environment in Spain to take a chance on something completely new: a move to Arizona, a training group he did not know, and a coach he had only spoken to a handful of times.
“It takes immense courage – it’s not easy to walk away from something and start over,” Spencer said. “But Mathis made that choice. He came in open-minded, committed, and ready to work. I told him, ‘If you follow my direction, I think you can be really good – and I’ll give you everything I’ve got.’ And he has. He’s been an incredible addition to the group.”
From Mathis’ perspective, the connection was instant – and essential. “I think [Parker has] played a major role in [both my success and] the success of the team this year,” Beaulieu said. “I think his patience and his passion are what make him one of the best coaches in triathlon. Every day he’s there for us and tries to make us the best. We also have a very good relationship with him, which makes everything easier when times get rough.”
Project Podium, funded by USA Triathlon, was originally created to develop American athletes, but Spencer advocated for broader inclusion.
“I advocated to have at least two international athletes on the squad,” he explained. “I think it helps the synergy of the group. When you bring athletes from different cultures, it enhances the overall culture of the program. You don’t expand who you are as a person if you’re only around others just like you.”
Alongside Beaulieu, Canadian Blake Harris also trains with the squad. A promising junior, Harris will represent Canada at both the Junior Pan American Games and U23 World Championships this season.
While Project Podium athletes may represent different flags, the environment they train in is built on unity and a shared commitment to growth.
“I encourage athletes to go into a training session with the mindset that they’re going to be the best teammate to everyone else, and help others have the best workout,” Spencer said. “What athletes end up getting in return is 12 other athletes who want you to have an amazing session.”
Olympic Outlook
Spencer isn’t shy about his vision. “Every day I wake up and think about how we can get closer to a medal in LA,” he said. “And I don’t ever think about LA without thinking about winning a medal.”
And when asked if he wants the whole podium?
“Yes, I want the whole podium,” he states without hesitation. “I know that’s ambitious and kind of crazy to say, but if that isn’t my goal, then what am I doing?”
With Tyler Mislawchuk, Charles Paquet, and now Beaulieu all emerging as serious contenders, Canada could have three men on the Olympic start line in Los Angeles for the first time in the country’s triathlon history. And Spencer believes Beaulieu is not only capable of making the team, but also of stepping onto the podium.
“Mathis has some of the best numbers we’ve ever seen in metabolic testing,” Spencer said. “Physiologically, he’s got everything he needs to be one of the best.”
If that potential leads to a medal in Los Angeles, the ripple effect could extend far beyond Beaulieu. A Canadian on the Olympic podium could have a meaningful impact on Triathlon Canada’s future funding and support, helping the next generation of athletes realize their own success.
More Than a Medal
Even amid the pursuit of Olympic podiums, Spencer’s coaching has always been grounded in something deeper.
He remembers watching Mathis step onto the podium earlier this year in Samarkand, his first since returning from injury, and hearing him fight back tears in the post-race interview. “He said, ‘It’s been the hardest nine months of my life. I didn’t know if I’d ever be back on a podium,’” Spencer recalled. “For me, that’s enough. That’s why I do this.”
Because for Spencer, the true measure of success lies not only in the podiums and the wins but in the journey it takes to achieve them.
That perspective deepened even further in 2024, when one of his athletes, four-time Paralympian Chris Hammer, finally won gold in Paris after placing fourth in both Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. The moment should have felt like triumph. And in many ways, it did. But something unexpected lingered.
“As soon as he crossed the line, I felt relieved and happy,” said Spencer. “But I was also sad, because the journey to his first podium and his first win was over. And that’s when it really hit me: the journey is way more valuable than the medal.”
It’s a realization that continues to shape how he leads, how he coaches, and how he shows up for athletes like Mathis.
“I wake up every day thinking about how to help these guys chase a dream,” he said. “But I also think about what kind of positive impact I can have on their lives – because they’re not just athletes trying to podium. They’re young people figuring out who they are in the world.”
As for Beaulieu, Spencer sees it clearly: the talent, the drive, the possibility of something extraordinary.
But perhaps even more than that, he sees the privilege of being beside him for the climb.
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