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

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.

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.”

She also spoke about the hurdles she faced while transitioning from gymnast to triathlete. “The transition was tough. I had no road cycling experience, no open-water experience, and not even pool experience. It took time, but in the end, it was all worth it.”

Renee emphasised how crucial her family’s support was throughout her journey, “During my first Ironman, I remember running late at night while my mom walked beside me, and my dad was on a video call. It meant everything.”

She also credited her coach for playing a vital role in her journey from gymnast to triathlete, “My coach helped me shift from being a gymnast to a triathlete, despite me having zero swimming or cycling experience. He’s been extremely supportive.”

She further proudly added, “In New Zealand, I finished the Ironman in 16 and a half hours. Now, I’ve brought that down to 14 hours. I can see myself progressing.”

Renee's Ironman Triathlon Journey

Renee began her triathlon journey by participating in Olympic-distance events. At just 18 years and 49 days old, she became the youngest Indian to finish a full Ironman, an achievement she accomplished in New Zealand in 2024.

Sharing her preparation, Renee said, "There were a lot of events before Ironman that helped me prepare. It was a tough day. During the practice ride and swim, the weather was nice. But on race day, there was a storm. It rained three times during the day.”

Reflecting on her experience in New Zealand, Renee added that she never felt like quitting, “The swim was good. I got to the transition area, picked up my bike, and went for the cycle. The cycling part was a little hard, but there was never a moment when I thought, ‘I can’t do this.’ I always knew I was going to finish. It was a very happy moment for me.”

Her second Ironman in Hamburg, Germany, was both challenging and rewarding. Renee broke her previous record of 16.5 hours, completing the race in 14 hours with a swim time of 1:30:33, a bike ride of 6:58:54, and a marathon of 5:16:45.

She also acknowledged a curious pattern: rain during both of her Ironman events. Once again, in Germany, there was lightning and thunder. The race’s start was delayed by an hour. Renee and her family waited in their room as she mentally prepared herself for a race that would go on to inspire many Indians.

“The swim was really nice, and it didn’t rain. During the cycle ride, it rained twice, and there was hail. The first 160 km were good. I was on track to finish in my predicted time. But the last 20 km were very windy. I took 50 minutes extra for that part,” she said.

“The run was really nice. I was able to maintain the same pace throughout. The crowds helped a lot. My dad was motivating me. And then I got to hold the Indian flag. That was a proud moment.”

Renee on Conquering Difficult Days

As inspiring as Renee's journey has been, it hasn’t been without challenges. Born and raised in Mumbai, she moved to London two years ago. There, she experienced stark differences as an athlete, adjusting her training routine in winter by switching to treadmill runs due to the cold.

When asked if she ever felt like quitting, her response reflected her passion and mental strength.

 “It’s been hard. It’s been a journey. There are days that are difficult, but that’s part of the process. Some days are tough, and you just have to keep going. You have to focus on the training session and finish it, no matter how hard it is.”

Renee further added, “I never thought about quitting. Maybe I thought about skipping a session or taking a small break. If people think about quitting, maybe the training isn’t tailored to their preference, or maybe it’s just a hard day."

Her advice to someone struggling with low motivation is simple yet powerful. “They should try changing something. Do something fun for a bit. Go for a walk and just think. But just don’t quit.”

‘Women Can Do Anything’

The Ironman is widely regarded as one of the most difficult endurance events in the world. Renee, as the youngest Indian woman to complete one, believes women can conquer anything:

“I think women can do anything—whatever they feel like. When they put their mind to it, stick to their routine, their schedule, their training, and have faith in themselves, they can do anything. They can do an Ironman, an Ultra, or swim. They just need to believe their potential is unlimited.”

Renee strongly believes that starting is the first step. "Suppose you do a 5 km run, reward yourself. Then, if you increase it, reward yourself again. When you don’t pay attention to these small milestones, you get demotivated. This is a trick to keep yourself motivated.”

Finding the Right Balance

Balancing her roles as a triathlete and student is all about discipline and adaptability. Renee creates a schedule to manage her training and academics, and sticks to it. “I train in the morning, study in the late mornings, work on assignments or projects in the afternoons, and train again in the evening. Sometimes I tweak my schedule depending on what’s going on. When I have exams, I focus on studying. When I have an event coming up, I plan longer runs and rides.”

Renee also spoke about how her diet has evolved from her days as a gymnast to now as a triathlete: “I think I’ve always been on a diet since I was a gymnast. It’s all about fueling your body and giving it what it needs. As a gymnast, my diet was different. Now, as a triathlete, I have more carbs and a heavier breakfast on race day. I’ve been on a diet since I was ten, but it wasn’t very strict. I have my days when I treat myself—ice cream, a sweet, whatever I feel like.”

As our conversation drew to a close, Renee smiled and held up the medal she earned at the Ironman in Hamburg, Germany. Gleaming with pride, the palm-sized token wasn't just a symbol of her achievements; it was a token that marked her progression. She had the medal customised with her name and the exact time it took her to complete the Ironman. For Renee, this medal wasn’t just an end; it marked the beginning of a journey filled with dreams waiting to be conquered.