Rhiannon Mehta
Triathlon coached based in London, UK.
As a Coach
As a passionate Coach with an attentive and observant nature, Rhiannon is a vibrant individual who can motivate athletes in raising and meeting their new aspirations. Rhiannon quickly develops relationships with athletes and works in a way that optimises each individuals potential. In the past, Rhiannon has coached athletes of all experiences and abilities: ranging in ability from beginners with low water-confidence and little bike-experience to world age-group medallists.
Q & A
Where are you based? Surrey/Berkshire
When did you get into triathlon? 2005 as an athlete, 2011 as a coach.
How did you first get involved in triathlon? A club started at the pool where I’d just gotten membership; I thought “I love swimming , I enjoy running and I can ride a bike – why not give it a go”. I feel in love!
What is your favourite discipline? Swimming
Why did you choose to take up coaching? In whatever capacity, whenever opportunity grants I’ve always tried to help people. Coupled with being “the quiet observant one” and my love for the sport meant coaching triathlon seemed an obvious path. To start with it was just helping out the other coaches - stepping in when they weren’t around, assisting them when the groups got bigger, facilitating additional sessions to complement the programme. But then I realised that the actual coaching was helping people and they were getting results from it so I just kept getting more and more involved.
What is your greatest athletic achievement? Leading the group down the passes when riding in the lakes – before I was their coach I’d had such fear descending that I could probably have walked down quicker, but I couldn’t let that show so I had to learn to descend!
What is your greatest coaching achievement? When, after bugging him for ages on it, an athlete achieved his “impossible, that’ll never happen”.
What one piece of advice would you give someone new to triathlon? Make sure you remember what makes you smile.
Favourite quote: Just because someone stumbles and loses their path, doesn't mean they're lost forever.
As an athlete
Rhiannon has competed and trained for triathlon for over 12 years now with experience across lots of different distances. Although Rhiannon enjoys competing, her natural environment is a coaching role where she is helping others to achieve.