Show Notes
Loughlin Campion is an Irish endurance athlete who crossed the finish line of the 2025 IRONMAN World Championship in Nice as the fastest Irish athlete, and whilst that deserves much respect and admiration, his journey to the race start line is truly an inspirational one of resilience, grit and the relentless pursuit of possibility.
A lifelong runner, inspired by his father's love of athletics, Loughlin's path to sporting success was abruptly interrupted a number of years ago when he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis; a chronic illness that brought daily struggles, physical setbacks and mental health challenges. For a time, his future in sport seemed uncertain as he grappled with fatigue, stress and the impact of a condition that literally turned life upside down.
With the support of family and friends, when Loughlin finally found his way to remission he began rebuilding his life around new sporting challenges. Triathlon became his focus, providing an opportunity not only to reignite his passion for running, but to push himself further than he ever imagined. His return to competitive sport has been remarkable. He completed IRONMAN Italy last year in 8:54, finishing in the top 20 on debut at the distance, earning his slot for the 2025 IRONMAN World Championship in Nice.
Whilst race day in Nice tested every ounce of his preparation and resolve, from the technical bike course to nutrition strategies and mishaps, Loughlin embraced and surmounted each challenge, ultimately crossing the finish line in a superb time of 9:34:44. The performance cemented his status as the fastest Irishman at the IRONMAN World Championship, a milestone that spoke not only to his athletic ability but to his perseverance in the face of adversity.
His story shines a light on the challenges of living with chronic illness, the importance of support networks, and the power of determination in rewriting what is possible. As he looks toward new goals, whether improving his run speed or preparing for future IRONMAN races, Loughlin's story reminds us that every setback is a setup for a comeback, and that every finish line, no matter how big or small the occasion, deserves to be celebrated.
More from Tri Talking Sport
Jen Done didn't grow up sporty. She swam a bit as a youngster, tagging along to galas beside a sister who was the 'sporty one of the family' and other than a handful of pre-baby marathons, a life in sport was never really part of her master plan. Seven years ago, after the birth of her daughter, she found herself in a very different kind of race, a race against postnatal depression so severe she could not get out the front door, convinced her husband and daughter would be better off without her. Dismissed as "baby blues" by three separate doctors before a female GP finally gave her the diagnosis and help she needed. Somewhere in the middle of it all, her husband suggested she try running again; she managed 30 seconds out the door and back. It was enough to change everything. That 30 seconds became a habit, and the habit snowballed; an IRONMAN 70.3 in Weymouth, her first full IRONMAN in Hamburg, the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona in 2023 racing with the IRONMAN Foundation. She launched her own podcast, 'The Toughest Finish Line', to share other people's stories of using sport to fight through trauma and mental health struggles and she is also a triathlon coach. A little over three weeks ago, Jen took on her biggest challenge yet: two full IRONMAN races, on consecutive days, in two different countries. IRONMAN Kalmar in Sweden on Saturday and IRONMAN Copenhagen in Denmark 24 hours later. In this episode Jen recalls and shares insight into her Viking IRONMAN adventure, the highs and the lows, the chaos to the calmness, from lost luggage, to the hectic hours before the race weekend even started and the nausea that almost derailed her ambitious racing plans which saw her become an eight time IRONMAN. Jen talks openly about her postnatal depression and the transformational journey she has been on since that 30 second run seven years ago. She reflects on what she's learned about her own capacity to cope, how strong she is and how far removed this version of herself is from the woman who once couldn't leave the house. This is a lovely episode centred on courage, resilience, self-belief and the importance of a loving support crew to help you take one small step at a time, even when that small step seems impossible.
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