Tommy Blake
Triathlon and Endurance Coach based in Southampton, UK
As a Coach
Tommy has been coaching in various forms since 2022, in person through local triathlon club Bayside Tri, as well as at Loughborough University Athletic Union Squad from 2023, moving towards a head coach role within the AU set-up for the 2025/26 academic year.
Alongside this, he has been coaching 1-2-1 on a small scale since 2024, alongside studying a degree in Sports Science, Coaching, and Physical Education.
He graduated in Summer 2025 with a 2:1 from Loughborough University in SSCaPE, including a Diploma in Professional Studies spent with Bike the UK for MS charity, including trip roles as a head route leader. He has also completed his British Triathlon Level 2 Qualification.
As an Athlete
Tommy has competed in triathlon since childhood; however, he suffered a major injury in a bike accident at 11, breaking his femur, having multiple operations and multiple years out of the sport, getting back into it seriously around 18, in line with moving away to university.
Throughout university, he competed in BUCS competitions alongside a personal focus on the 70.3 distance, competing in the Challenge Championships 2022, Multiple 18-24 AG podiums including 3rd and AG Overall 7th at Swansea IRONMAN 70.3 2023, and 1st 18-24 Swansea IRONMAN 70.3 2024.
A highlight was competing in the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships 2025 in Marbella. In his final year of university, he was part of the Loughborough University Triathlon Performance Centre Development Squad, with a highlight being running a 31:32 10k in early 2025.
He’s still competing, getting back into the sport slowly, aiming to return to a competitive level after a break from training over winter 2025 to Spring 2026.
See Tommy’s most recent athlete feedback
Q&A with Tommy
When did he get into triathlon? He got into triathlon roughly in 2011, moving across from swimming as a kid, and fell in love with it! It was the sport that got him back into love with training and competing after such a long break out due to his injury.
What is his favourite discipline? His favourite discipline is a hard choice; it depends on the day! If he had to pick, it would be cycling, especially in beautiful places like on the NC500 up in Scotland
Why did he choose to take up coaching? He chose to get into coaching as, with finding his way back into the sport, he realised how much it does for him in terms of mental and social aspects as much as the physical. Tommy wanted to try and share that passion and love he has for it to help others find the enjoyment and benefits he’s found within it
What is his greatest athletic achievement? His greatest athletic achievement would be either his 31:32 10k at the Stubbington 10k 2025, or his BUCS silver and bronze medals from the team trial in 2023!
What is his greatest coaching achievement? Tommy’s greatest coaching achievement would be coaching an athlete who had been working on qualifying for Xterra World Championships, to help them be fully mentally prepared, and ultimately qualifying for and getting to race Xterra WC’s 2025, achieving a dream before they had to take a step back to focus on the final year of their degree!
What one piece of advice would he give someone new to triathlon? Tommy’s advice would be to reach out to people and make the most of all the amazing people you can meet, be inspired by, and inspire in the sport!
Favourite quote: “Shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you can still land amongst the stars.”
Read Tommy’s latest blogs
