Name: Laura Siddall
Date of Birth: 10/09/1980
Nationality: British
Live: Boulder, Colordao
Coach: Julie Dibens

British but global traveller (nomad). Started by chasing Summer between the Southern Hemisphere in Christchurch, New Zealand, and Girona, Spain in the Northern Hemisphere…wherever the racing and training leads. Now more located in Boulder, USA with the JDCrew. Previously 7 years in Sydney, Australia, and 2years in San Francisco, USA. Engineer, British Army Officer, Consultant, Triathlete. Youngest daughter, sister, best Aunty.

Born in Nottinghamshire, spent my school years in Yorkshire (Brownlee country I think it’s now been named). I’m the youngest daughter to my Dad, Bob (a Mining Engineer) and my Mum, Gill (a Maths Teacher). I have three older sisters, Anna, Naomi and Charlotte and have three awesome nieces and nephew, Maisie, Jack, Molly and Florence.

With a degree in Mechanical Engineering (any surprise with my parents professions and two of my older sisters also being Engineers), and a Gap Year as a Officer in the British Army, I worked for Shell in the UK, before moving to Sydney, Australia (2007) for a two year assignment. At the end of the two years instead of returning to the UK, I decided I wasn’t quite done with Australia yet. Then in 2014 I relocated to San Francisco, to try to live the dream and chase the Pro Triathlete life. I then spent several years chasing summer splitting my time between the Southern Hemisphere summer in Christchurch, New Zealand and the Northern Hemisphere summer in Girona, Spain. Now, I’m more based in Boulder, USA with my coach Julie Dibens and the JDCrew, although generally chasing races and training around the world.

Sport has always been part of my life. At school I was involved in Athletics, Netball, Hockey, Swimming (although my butterfly stroke got our school relay team disqualified twice), and tennis. Towards the end of school and into University my focus narrowed to Netball and Athletics (400mH) being lucky enough to represent England Schools at junior level in Athletics (300mH) and England in Netball.

I started Triathlon, a year after moving to Australia. I’d signed up for the Sydney to Wollongong ride (90km), with some work colleagues, and bought a hybrid road/mountain bike the week prior. I loved it and a colleague suggested I try Triathlon. To be honest, I didn’t really know much about the sport, but I found a beginners course run by Bondifit and well, the rest is history! Having raced as an Age Grouper for the past few years, progressing from complete rookie to a four time World Champion (amateur) I took the leap at the end of 2013 to step up into the Pro ranks and race against the big kids. In 2014 I went full time as a Professional, started work with Matt Dixon and moved to San Francisco. In 2017/2018 I was the fifth fastest British woman of all time over the iron distance. I’m now a five time Ironman Champion, which includes winning Ironman Australia for three consecutive years (2017, 2018, 2019), Ironman New Zealand (2018), and I’m also the ETU European Long Distance Champion (2018), and Patagonman Champion (2023)

In 2022, I finished in the top 10 twice at the Ironman World Championships – 7th at the postponed (2020/2021) Ironman World Champs, St. George and then 10th at the Ironman World Championships 2022, Kona. Never would have dreamed a top 10 in the World, let alone, two in the same year!

In May 2023 I was hit by a car, during the bike leg of Ironman Brazil, suffering a brain bleed. I was fortunately given a Wild Card for the Ironman World Champions, and managed to build back my recovery and fitness to finish in 16th, in my fastest ever Kona time.

I’m a self-confessed sports junky. I love it. Watching, participating, supporting, coaching, whatever it is, I love it and can’t get enough. It’s what I thrive on, it’s what I’m passionate about and it’s what gives me a buzz in life. Don’t Die Wondering is what I live by.

Outside of sport, I was voted on (by my peers) to the Athlete Board of the Professional Triathlete Organisation (PTO) and also sit on the PTO Anti-Doping committee. In 2022 I was selected to be part of the Women’s Sport Trust UNLOCKED programme, and I’m excited about the continuing work and power together of this group of incredible women. I’m a podcaster; speaker; commentator; coach; mentor; have my own range of t.shirts; am regularly asked to comment, quote by sports media; and in 2020 launched Sid Squads to help young up and coming female triathletes.