About Leanda Cave

I am a four-time world champion triathlete, with wins at the ITU Olympic Distance, Half Distance and the Ironman and Ironman 70.3 distance. I grew up in Australia, and began racing professionally for Great Britain, my birth country, at the age of 22. My professional career lasted 18 years, and took me all over the world, until I finally settled down in the USA.

I have been competing in triathlons since 1994, where I began at the Olympic distance. Over the years I gradually gravitated towards the longer distance, dominating in half and full distance triathlons. In 2001, I became the European Under-23 champion.

2002 was my breakthrough year, where I won silver at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, silver at the European Championships, and then gold and the World Title in Cancun, Mexico, in November 2002.

I took home my 2nd World Title in 2007 at the ITU Long Distance World Championships in Lorient, France. In 2012, I was the first woman in history to win both the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships and Ironman World Championships in the same year. And although retired, in 2022 I decided to go for a 5th world title at the Ultraman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, but only managed 3rd place.

In both 2002 and 2012, I was nominated for the Welsh Sports Personality of the Year Award. In 2012 I was also named as one of the ‘World’s Fittest Women’ by CNN. This is quite a recognition as 2012 was also an Olympic year.

Since retiring I’ve grown my coaching business that I founded 2015. Through coaching I enjoy transforming lives by helping athletes of all ages/sex/ability achieve their own athletic goals in triathlon, swimming, cycling or running. I now coach alongside my husband, Maiko De Andara.

My experience and success has enabled me to acquire a wealth of knowledge about triathlon, from training, nutrition, strength and psychology. Through coaching, I can share what I have learnt and give back to triathlon and other sports that have given me so much.

If you are interested in learning more about Leanda Cave Coaching and Maiko’s Coaching Services, please contact via email: [email protected].