Member Highlight

Tef’s triathlon journey began with a little encouragement from friends in the Toronto Triathlon Club community. When a friend suggested taking on a sprint triathlon together, Tef was already a runner but had to learn biking and swimming from scratch. What initially seemed like an intimidating challenge turned out to be much more approachable than expected, opening the door to a new multisport adventure.

When reflecting on athletic achievements, Tef finds it difficult to choose just one standout moment. From crossing finish lines to celebrating smaller training milestones, there have been plenty of reasons to be proud along the way. But some of the most special moments have been racing alongside friends and seeing non-athlete friends show up to cheer and offer their support. For Tef, those shared experiences make the journey especially meaningful.

Of course, every athlete has something they’re still working on, and for Tef, the answer is clear: downhills, downhills, downhills! Learning to navigate descents comfortably remains an ongoing challenge, proving that there’s always something new to learn in triathlon.

One of Tef’s favourite things about the TTC is how genuinely inclusive and accessible the community is. Seeing athletes of different ages, shapes, sizes, and abilities come together to participate in endurance sports makes the club feel welcoming to everyone. From camps to workshops, TTC programming caters to a range of experience levels, helping take away the intimidation factor for newer athletes. Connecting with fellow members, swapping stories, and sharing training and nutrition tips have also provided Tef with valuable insights, encouragement, and a sense of community along the way.

Outside of swimming, biking, and running, Tef spends time on the mat as a Yoga and Mat Pilates instructor. And while Tef enjoys the social side of triathlon, there’s an introverted side, too! Quiet moments of solitude and the occasional opportunity to go hours without talking are just as welcome as time spent with fellow athletes.

We’re thrilled to have Tef as part of the TTC community and love seeing how friendship, encouragement, and a willingness to try something new can turn an intimidating challenge into a rewarding journey. Keep embracing those milestones, Tef - and those downhills will get easier!

This week’s member highlight is Kathy Cunningham!

Kathy discovered the joy of running in 2016, thanks to friends who encouraged her to get active and meet new people. When osteoarthritis began affecting her knees, neighbour and friend Nancy Schmeler (Dig Deep) suggested triathlon as a way to cross-train. Kathy signed up for her first sprint triathlon before buying a bike!

After hearing about TTC at a BodyPump class, she joined to connect with fellow triathletes and take advantage of group training and learning opportunities. Since then, she’s done sprint and Olympic-distance triathlons, duathlons, and cycling events including the Ride to Conquer Cancer and Bike for Brain Health. Her proudest athletic achievement was finishing the New York Marathon in 2023 - in over seven hours!

These days, Kathy is happily dabbling in shorter triathlons for fun, without worrying about the clock. As she puts it, “I can keep a toe in the triathlon world and hang around amazing and inspiring people, which makes it worth the price of admission!”

When she’s not swimming, biking or running, Kathy serves as Communications Director for the Toronto Bicycling Network. Cycling, she admits, is her favourite of the three - and being part of both clubs gives her the best of both worlds, with plenty of opportunities for training, recreation and great company.

This month, we’re shining the spotlight on Toronto Triathlon Club member Michelle Cameron, who recently represented Canada at the 2026 World Triathlon Age-Group Championships in Pontevedra, Spain.

A TTC member since 2019, Michelle brings an impressive combination of academic expertise, curiosity and athletic determination to everything she does. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Toronto, where her research focuses on evolutionary anthropology, bioarchaeology, skeletal biology, and how humans adapt to different environmental and cultural conditions.

Away from the classroom and research lab, Michelle has been putting that same curiosity and commitment into triathlon. Her World Triathlon career already includes a 16th-place finish at the 2024 World Triathlon Long Distance Championships in Townsville, Australia. This September, she took on another major international challenge in Pontevedra, Spain, joining thousands of athletes from around the world for the 2026 World Triathlon Age-Group Championships.

You can almost always find Michelle at our club socials and Splash & Dash events, connecting with fellow members and helping make TTC the welcoming community it is. She’s also an active presence in our Discord channel, regularly engaging with other members, sharing her experience and answering questions whenever she can.

Whether she’s representing Canada on the world stage, lining up at a local TTC event, or helping a fellow member navigate a training or racing question, Michelle embodies what being part of the Toronto Triathlon Club is all about: being an athlete, but also being part of a community.

Congratulations, Michelle, on representing Canada and TTC on the world stage!

We’re proud to have you as part of the TTC community.