As a coach, I’ve had the privilege of working with some remarkable athletes, but Steph Popelar stands in a category of her own. She is an ITU Age Group World Champion, a perennial member of Team USA in both triathlon and duathlon, and in 2024 she was named the Colorado Master Athlete of the Year for all sports. At her age group, she regularly lines up against some of the best athletes in the world including former Olympic gold medalists who still compete.
Steph is a pleasure to coach: disciplined, humble, relentlessly curious, and always willing to push the boundaries of what’s possible. This past winter, she traveled to Antarctica to participate in the first official triathlon ever held on the continent. After she returned, I sat down with her to talk about the experience.
What follows is our conversation.
Q: Steph, you’ve raced on nearly every continent, but Antarctica is something entirely different. When did you first hear that an official triathlon there might actually happen?
A: About three years ago, a friend from Team USA through USA Triathlon mentioned that there was a possibility of an official triathlon being held in Antarctica. This would be the first official and actual triathlon ever completed on the continent. I was immediately interested.
Q: You mentioned this idea had been floating around for years. What were the early attempts like, and why was it so hard to get approval?
A: The idea actually sprouted about six years ago when my friend began approaching various adventure companies with the concept. The challenge was that Antarctica isn’t owned by any country, it’s governed internationally under the Antarctic Treaty. Because of that, the proposal faced rejection after rejection. It was a long, exhausting process before approval was finally granted in September 2025.
Q: After all those years of uncertainty, what was your reaction when you learned the event was officially approved?
A: When the approval came through, it felt surreal. But it also meant the clock was ticking. We had to make everything happen during Antarctica’s “summer” months, which gave us a very tight window.
Q: The race date was set for December 8, 2025. What were the biggest logistical challenges you and the team had to navigate?
A: Participants had to meet in Punta Arenas, Chile. Only one company flies to Antarctica, and the plane has strict limitations for bike box sizes, weather conditions, weight restrictions. It’s a two‑hour flight, and the plane immediately returns to Chile after dropping you off. There are no medical personnel, no police, no military, no permanent residents. Everything is governed by a strict “leave no trace” policy.
Q: Antarctica has some of the strictest environmental rules on the planet. What were some of the unique requirements you had to follow?
A: You can’t leave anything behind, not even a wrapper or a rock. You can’t relieve yourself anywhere except in approved receptacles. All human waste is shipped back to Chile. Antarctica is the most pristine place on earth, and it’s prohibited to diminish its natural state in any way.
Q: Only 16 athletes were allowed to participate, and ultimately six committed. Tell me about the team.
A: We had four women and two men. One woman was originally from South Africa, and the others were from different states in the U.S. One male athlete was from the U.S. and the other from Poland. We held multiple Zoom calls to discuss logistics and create a participant manual. We bonded quickly because we knew we were stepping into the unknown together.
Q: What kinds of things did you have to plan or agree on before even arriving on the continent?
A: Everything from gear requirements to safety protocols to how transitions would work. The race distances were 400 meters for the swim, 20K for the bike, and 5K for the run. We had to ensure transitions were consecutive and completed within a reasonable time so the entire triathlon happened on the same day.
Q: The environment changes everything. What special gear or adaptations were required for each leg of the race?
A: For the swim, we needed wetsuits, gloves, booties, and hoods. For the bike, mountain bikes with flat pedals were mandatory. For the run, we could choose our own gear but had to follow safety guidelines. We wore our running shoes on the bike to simplify transitions. Bike bottles had to be insulated to prevent freezing.
Q: Nutrition and equipment management must have been tricky in those conditions. How did you handle that?
A: No wrappers or gel packets could be left anywhere, so we had to be extremely careful. We also kept the same clothing on for the bike and run to minimize exposure and transition time.
Q: You didn’t know the exact course until arriving in Antarctica. What were the options, and how was the final route chosen?
A: There were five possible courses. Two were in lakes that were frozen and those were eliminated. One had ten feet of snow covering the bike and run route also eliminated. The final course ended up being an ocean swim with a 20‑lap bike and a 5‑lap run on existing paths to avoid disturbing fragile ecosystems.
Q: What was your first impression when you saw the actual terrain you’d be racing on?
A: It was breathtaking, a stark, pristine, and unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. The reality of where we were and what we were about to do really hit me.
Q: What was it like waking up on December 8th and preparing to board the plane?
A: We were excited, but the flight was delayed almost three hours due to weather. We knew the whole trip could be cancelled in an instant. When we finally got the green light and walked across the tarmac to the Antarctic Airways plane, it was exhilarating.
Q: What was the flight like?
A: The two‑hour flight was filled with anticipation. Looking out the window, it was nothing but water below as we headed toward the bottom of the earth.
Q: Describe your first moments stepping onto Antarctica.
A: The airport was a gravel runway. No buildings, no hangars — just snow, rocks, gravel, and ice. We took a bus from the Chilean Research base to the race site. The guide staff immediately began scouting the course. Nothing is flat in Antarctica. Our bike and run course was all hills, rocks, snow, and puddles.
Q: What was going through your mind as you prepared for the swim start?
A: It felt surreal. The Chilean Research base had a heated tent for changing. The buoys were set. Safety staff were in a zodiac watching for leopard seals. We were all giddy, like kids at an amusement park. Then the countdown started “on your mark, get set, go!” we looked at each other in awe.
Q: The swim was eight laps in 30‑degree water. What was that experience like?
A: We had about ten meters of rocks to navigate before entering the water. It was dark and cold. My goal was simply to keep swimming and get out as soon as possible. The water was incredibly clear, nothing grows in it so we saw only rocks. It was fantastic and surreal to be swimming in Antarctica.
Q: How did the first transition go?
A: I waddled over the rocks and headed to the tent. The guide staff helped strip the wetsuit We had practiced this the day before. Then I changed into dry clothes as fast as possible. Seconds still counted; this was a race.
Q: The bike course sounds brutal. What was it like?
A: The start was straight uphill for about 200 meters. We had wind, then snow, then more wind, then overcast. The terrain was rocks, snow, and puddles. But we were in Antarctica doing a triathlon, it was amazing.
Q: And then the run, with penguins as spectators. How did that feel?
A: The winds were nasty and the snow was swirling. I was glad I kept all my layers on. And yes, penguins were on parts of the course. They were our biggest fans… and our only fans. It was incredible.
Q: What was it like crossing the finish line of the first triathlon ever completed in Antarctica?
A: Thrilling. Cold, windy, snowy, rocky, but thrilling. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine doing this. It was an amazing experience.
Q: And the entire team finished safely. What did that mean to you?
A: It meant everything. We formed a bond that will last forever. We shared something no one else can claim, completing the first triathlon on the white continent.