'Women Can Do Anything': Renee Noronha On Being India’s Youngest Female Ironman

Renee Noronha, 19, is India’s youngest female Ironman. In an interview with SheThePeople, she opened up about her journey that transcends beyond the finish line.

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Khushi Dwivedi
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Renee Noronha Interview

Renee Proudly Holding the National Flag After Successfully Completing Ironman in Hamburg, Germany

Renee Noronha is not your average teenage girl next door. At the tender age of six, she began training in gymnastics. By 16, she retired from the sport, only to pursue something even more challenging. Fast forward to today: Renee is India’s youngest female Ironman.

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Currently pursuing a BS in Data Science & Applications from IIT Madras, Renee has always aspired to do something extraordinary. At 19, she’s not only inspiring Indian women with her Ironman feat but also dreams of completing a PhD in Data Science in the coming years.

In an interview with SheThePeople, Renee shared her journey beyond the successful completion of Ironman. From gymnastics to gruelling endurance races, her path is a testament to determination, discipline, and resilience.

Renee Noronha in Conversation with SheThePeople

Renee’s interest in sports began when she took up gymnastics at the age of six. “I did gymnastics for about 10 years. I used to train around 8 hours a day, from morning till evening. I only went to school for exams. When I was 16, I retired from gymnastics and felt the need to take on something more challenging, something big.”

When asked how she began her Ironman journey, Renee said, “I started with running. I always wanted to swim, but never got the chance to learn. So, I began swimming, met my coach Shankar Thapa, and took up cycling. I even ran the half Mumbai Marathon while training for Ironman.”

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She also spoke about the hurdles she faced while transitioning from gymnast to triath

Ironman Triathlon