Diogo Custodio

Triathlon Coach based in Lisbon, Portugal.

 
 

As a Coach

Triathlon Coaching started for Diogo in 2010 when he was invited by Sporting Lisbon to start coaching the Triathlon School. Realising that coaching with only the level 2 wasn’t enough, Diogo decided complete his degree in Physical Education and Sports. While at University, Diogo started to coach at some training camps in the South of Portugal and was soon an integrated part of the coaching team for the Junior Portuguese National Team at both events and camps.

After completing his degree, Diogo was invited to join the Portuguese Triathlon Federation as the Coaching Development Director, organising several Coaching Courses and CPD’s.

At the same time, Diogo has been joined several High Performance athletes through World and European Triathlon Cups and Championships. In 2017 he did his Level 3 coaching qualification in Madrid, Spain giving him an impressive insight to the world of high performance sport and how to find the extra edge.

The experience gained at many levels of triathlon gave him a very understanding on how the triathlon world works as well as how to get the very best out of all athletes, from beginner to the very top level elite athletes.


Como Treinador

O percurso como Treinador de Triatlo começou em 2010 quando na altura foi convidado pelo Sporting Clube de Portugal para treinar a Escola de Triatlo do clube. Ao aperceber-se que apenas possuir o Grau 2 de treinador de Triatlo não era suficiente para poder executar um serviço de excelência decidiu tirar a licenciatura em Educação Física e Desporto.

Ainda na universidade, foi convidado a juntar-se à equipa técnica de alguns Training Camps realizados no Sul de Portugal e também de alguns estágios da equipa nacional júnior de Triatlo.

Após completar a sua licenciatura, foi convidado pela Federação de Triatlo de Portugal para assumir o cargo de Diretor de Formação organizando diversos cursos de Treinador e algumas Ações de Formação. Durante o mesmo período, juntou-se à comitiva de atletas em diversas Taças da Europa e do Mundo assim como alguns Campeonatos Europeus e Mundiais de Elite. Em 2017 foi a Madrid para realizar o curso de Grau 3 de Treinador de Triatlo.

A experiência ganha nos diversos campos do Triatlo, dão-lhe uma enorme bagagem no que concerne ao trabalho com Triatletas de diversos níveis.

As an Athlete

Diogo has started his career in Triathlon in 2005. Through out the time he became a very competent age-group triathlete, winning the silver medal in his age group at the European Championships In Lisbon in 2008 for the shorter distances. In 2010 he also took 2nd place at the U23 Triathlon National Championships.

In 2011 he did his first half IRONMAN distance race in Lisbon taking 10th place overall with a time of 4h10.

Finally in 2015 he did his first full distance race at the Challenge Roth completing the race in 9h24 and in 2018 Diogo raced IM Tallinn establishing a new Personal Best of 9h07. However, ever believing that if you are going to do something, you need to do something properly, he is aiming higher.

Therefore, he is aiming for a sub nine-hour IRONMAN and also wants to making sure he take his place at the IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.


Como Atleta

Diogo iniciou a sua carreira desportiva no triatlo em 2005. Durante o seu processo de formação, tornou-se um atleta Age Grouper de qualidade superior conquistando em 2008 a medalha de prata no Campeonato da Europa em Lisboa. Em 2010 sagrou-se vice campeão nacional de Triatlo no escalão de Sub23.

Em 2011, abraçando distâncias um pouco mais longas, realizou o seu primeiro triatlo de média distância em Lisboa com um tempo de 4h10 conquistando o 10º lugar da geral.

Em 2015 decide fazer o seu primeiro triatlo de distância longa no Challenge Roth, fazendo a prova em 9h24 e em 2018, no Ironman de Tallinn, estabelece o seu record pessoal de 9h07, resultado que não o deixa satisfeito, o seu objetivo final será realizar um triatlo de distância longa abaixo das 9h e conquistar o seu lugar nos campeonatos do mundo da distância no Kona, Hawai’i.


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Q&A with Diogo

Where are you based? Sintra, a small town located 20km away from Lisbon.

When did you get into triathlon? As an athlete in 2004 and 2010 as a Coach.

How did you first get involved in triathlon? Before I started my triathlon career, I got myself into my town's swimming team. I was 15 years old at the time and my coach asked me if I wanted to try Triathlon, to be honest I didn't know what it was; in 2004 Triathlon wasn't as famous in Portugal as it is now. I accepted the challenge; went to some training sessions with the team and enjoyed so much that I never stopped. I must confess that I was an overweight kid so Triathlon had a huge impact in my life.

What is your favourite discipline? When I was racing sprint and standard distance triathlons, cycling was my favourite discipline because it was the discipline where I made most difference. Now that I've moved into long distance, swimming is my favourite and though I still love the others definitely think it is the best one.

Why did you choose to take up coaching? Before triathlon I wasn't a sports person, that's how huge a change it has had to my life. I'd never dreamed of being a Triathlon Coach but opportunities came up and as teaching is something I always enjoyed doing, the combination lead me to Coaching Triathlon. Now I can't see myself doing anything else.

What is your greatest athletic achievement? Well, I had a few interesting achievements as a triathlete, I was Age Group European Vice Champion in 2008, I was under23 National Vice Champion in 2010, and most recently, I started Ironman racing and in my first race I did 9h24, in Roth in 2015, that was one of the best achievements in my sports career as a triathlete.

What is your greatest coaching achievement? I have two, the first one was being part of the National Team Delegation in some big races (WTS and World Championships) the other was putting someone who never did triathlon or any sport related to triathlon in his life doing Half Distance Triathlons in less than 5h30 enjoying this sport.

What one piece of advice would you give someone new to triathlon? Triathlon is an endurance sport and for that reason, results take some time to appear. Keep yourself a routine of training and try to find a correct coaching program that fits all your requests. Set your goals with your coach, he knows what will be better for you! If you have questions, ask them, there are no incorrect questions!

Favourite quote (something that reflects your approach to coaching and life): Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life. (Confucius)


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