Rita Correia
Triathlon Coach based in Casicais, Portugal
As a Coach
Rita is top of her class in Sports Science (Major in Triathlon Training), is a qualified Level 3 Triathlon Coach (Madrid 2016) and Level 2 Swimming Coach. She is also a Veterinary Doctor and has a deep understanding and interest in anatomy, physiology and metabolic conditioning.
She started coaching swimming in ´96 and triathlon in ’08 and has coached hundreds of athletes to higher levels of ability, confidence and competitiveness.
Lived in Germany for 2 years and speaks 5 different languages fluently.
As a wife of a ITU long distance multiple times world champion and 3 times Ironman Kona finisher, daughter of an athlete, a mother-of-two triathlete herself, she understands the never-ending time management needed to keep the coach and family happy.
Passion for the sport and enjoyment for the training process are key elements to keep you motivated and are the focus of Rita’s coaching.
As an Athlete
Started learning how to swim at the age of 3 and never left the pool again, becoming a proficient swimmer. Currently competes at Swimming Masters championships and local triathlons. Loves sports in general and gets teary eyed with great athletic achievements.
In 2005, she found triathlon as a natural evolution from open water swimming while falling in love with cycling and bicycles.
Other than the competition part of triathlon, Rita is hugely enthusiastic about the traveling, atmosphere and camaraderie associated with the sport.
She hopes to break world records when she reaches AG 100-104.
Como treinadora
Rita tem uma licenciatura da FMH em Ciências do Desporto (variante Treino Desportivo Triatlo), é Treinadora nível 3 em Triatlo e nível 2 em Natação. Sendo desde 2002 licenciada em Medicina Veterinária, tem um grande interesse e nível de compreensão de anatomia, fisiologia e treino metabólico.
Iniciou a sua carreira como treinadora de natação em 1996 e de triatlo em 2008, tendo ensinado e treinado centenas atletas desde o nível iniciante a avançado em clubes como Os Benelenses, Clube Triatlo de Almada e Clube Nacional de Natação.
Viveu na Alemanha por 2 anos e fala 5 línguas.
Como mulher de um atleta 3 vezes finalista no Campeonato do Mundo Ironman do Hawaii e bi-campeão do mundo de triatlo longo ITU, filha de um atleta e ela própria uma triatleta mãe de duas crianças, percebe bem a magia necessária em termos de gestão de tempo para conciliar todas estas vertentes numa modalidade tão exigente.
O gosto pelo processo de treino e a paixão pelo desporto são elementos chave para a motivação diária, e um dos focos desta treinadora.
Como Atleta
Aos 3 anos iniciou a sua aprendizagem de natação e nunca mais deixou as piscinas. Atualmente compete em campeonatos Master de natação e triatlos nacionais. É entusiasta de desporto em geral e grandes feitos atléticos conseguem sempre emocioná-la.
Em 2005 iniciou-se no triatlo - uma evolução natural das competições de águas abertas, ao mesmo tempo que se apaixonava pelo ciclismo e pelas bicicletas.
Para além da parte competitiva das provas de triatlo, são as viagens, o ambiente e amizade que rodeiam este desporto que constituem os maiores prazeres de ser triatleta.
Espera ainda bater recordes mundiais no age group 100-104!
When did you get into triathlon? 2005. Started big and went to Hawaii to watch the IRONMAN World Championships... When you love sports, you cannot go there and come back as the same person.
How did you first get involved in triathlon? My best friend needed a training partner!
What is your favourite discipline? Swimming. Have been in the water since I was 3. It is an addiction!
Why did you choose to take up coaching? Coaching has been a passion of mine since my teens. Joining people with similar principles and focus was a natural step – hence Tri Training Harder.
What is your greatest athletic achievement? The year of 2012! I was top 10 of my Age Group in Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, did Vätternrundan – 300km cycling event in Sweden - in 10h and was 1st out of the water in ICAN Marbella Triathlon.
What is your greatest coaching achievement? Teaching multiple people who didn’t know how to swim and were afraid of the water. Witnessing the evolution and seeing them complete (and love) open water swimming events has made me tremendously proud.
What one piece of advice would you give to someone new to triathlon? Enjoy the training process. The races are the cherry on top, the real flavour is in the cake.
Favourite quote: “Step one is showing up”
Being able to swim in a pool is not quite the same as being able to swim in open water. In this latest article, Coach Rita explores her learning experience when she took an open water swim session with some British athletes and her surprise at the skills gap between their swimming ability and open water experience.