At an age when most teenagers are still figuring themselves out, Renee Noronha wakes up at 5 am every morning to swim, cycle and run towards a dream that spans continents. This is the story of how a former gymnast found her freedom in endurance and why she believes her best miles are still ahead.
Some mornings, Renee wakes up excited. “There are days when I wake up and I can’t wait to train,” she says. “My body feels ready and my mind is excited.”
And then there are the other mornings. “There are days that are hard,” she admits. “On those days, I just keep it one step at a time. I get ready, I get to the session, I do the session, and I keep moving.”
That simple line, I just keep moving, says more about Renee than any statistic ever could. At 19,
she is already an Ironman finisher on multiple continents, training nearly 20 hours a week while pursuing her degree at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras.
Her goal is staggering: to become the youngest athlete in the world to complete an Ironman on every continent before her 21st birthday.
But the story didn’t begin with endurance. It started with letting go.
Walking Away From What She Knew
For over ten years, artistic gymnastics defined Renee’s life. Long hours. Strict routines. Total control. Then, at 16, she stopped. “After spending more than ten years doing gymnastics, I reached a point where I just wanted to try something new,” she says. “I wanted to see what would happen if I pushed my limits in a completely different way.”
It was a decision of curiosity. “I wanted to discover what my body was capable of,” she explains.
Walking away from the only sport she had ever known wasn’t easy. “It’s not easy to walk away from the only thing you’ve ever done and the only thing you’ve ever known,” she says. “I’m really grateful I had such a strong support system during that time.”
That search for something new led her to running. Running led her to a triathlon. And triathlon, almost quietly, changed everything.
The Day Ironman Felt Possible
Renee’s first taste of triathlon came at IronKids Goa. It wasn’t just a race; it was an introduction to an entirely new world. “It was my first real exposure to the Ironman world,” she says. “I got to visit the expo, meet the athletes, see the boards with all the names, even meet the race director.”
She competed in the 13–16 girls category. She won. But that wasn’t the moment that stayed with her. “It was the energy,” Renee says. “The supporters, the whole vibe of the race.”
For the first time, Ironman didn’t feel like something distant. “That’s when I started thinking about doing Ironman 70.3 Goa in the future,” she says. “It made me want to take this forward.”
‘We Did It, Renee’
At 18, Renee stood on the start line of Ironman New Zealand – a full Ironman. The race was brutal. “Three kilometres from the finish line, it started raining again,” she remembers. “Maybe for the fourth time that day. I was exhausted.”
“I saw athletes who had already finished,” she says. “They had medals around their necks and they were walking back, cheering me on.”
Then she saw her mother. “Just before the red carpet, I saw my mum,” Renee says. “She told me she’d meet me at the finish line.” At the start of the red carpet stood a bell rung only by first-time Ironman finishers. I rang that bell with everything I had,” she says. “And I sprinted down the red carpet.”
And she completed her first Ironman. “The first thought in my head was, ‘We did it, Renee,” she says, smiling. “I was so happy.”
Learning, Racing, Improving
From that moment on, Renee stopped seeing Ironman as a one-off challenge. It became a process. Her coach, Shankar Thapar, played a central role. “He’s extremely patient,” she says. “His training plans are custom-made for each athlete.”
More importantly, he changed how she thought about racing. “He’s taught me to trust the process,” Renee says. “And to understand that every Ironman is different.” That mindset showed at Ironman Hamburg.
Despite harsher conditions, her time improved dramatically.
“It was my second Ironman, and that made a big difference,” she says. “I stood at the start line with way more confidence because I knew what to expect.”
Nutrition, pacing, and experience came together. “I had practised my nutrition properly,” she says. “So the race felt more controlled.”
Even then, she isn’t satisfied. “I still feel like I could do better,” she adds. “Next time.”
Training, Exams, Real Life
Between races, Renee’s life looks nothing like the Instagram version of elite sport. There are lectures, exams, deadlines … and early alarms.
“My coach plans my sessions weeks in advance,” she explains. “I keep him informed about my exam schedule, and based on that, he adjusts the training.”
She credits her college for making it possible. “IIT Madras has been very supportive,” she says. “That’s what really helps me balance both.”
Her training blocks are meticulously planned – base phases, intensity cycles, peak volume, tapering – but always with reality in mind.
A World Record Takes Shape
The idea of completing an Ironman on every continent didn’t come from social media or sponsorship decks. “My dad planted the idea in my mind,” Renee says simply.
After her first Ironman, clarity followed. “I knew this is exactly what I wanted to do,” she says. Then came research and ambition. “When I learned what the current world record was,” she says, “that’s when I decided I wanted to set a new one and achieve it by 21.”
So far, she has completed Ironman races in Asia, Europe and Oceania. Next is Ironman Philippines. “I chose it because it fits best with my college schedule,” she says. “It falls during my holidays, so I can fully commit to training.”
Under Armour Support
In December 2025, Renee joined the Under Armour athlete squad after reaching out to her. “They responded immediately and showed interest,” she says. “Right now, the support is primarily gear-focused, but I hope the partnership grows further.”
She hopes the partnership grows – not just for herself, but for what it could enable later. “Endurance sports are expensive,” she says again, this time with emphasis. “There are so many young girls who lack access to training, gear, even transport.”
That’s where her long-term vision comes in. “I want to create access and opportunity,” she says. “So talent doesn’t get lost just because resources aren’t available.”
Looking Ahead
Right now, Renee isn’t rushing the future. “My full focus is on completing an Ironman on every continent by 21,” she says. Beyond that, the dreams keep growing. “I want to qualify for the Ironman World Championships in Kona,” she says. “I’m also drawn to races like Comrades and Norseman.”
But she says it calmly, without urgency. “In endurance sports, athletes often peak in their 30s,” Renee says. “So I believe the best is yet to come.” Until then, her approach remains unchanged. “Training is my favourite part of the day,” she says. “No matter how demanding everything else is.”
And on the mornings when motivation doesn’t come easily? “That routine grounds me,” she says. “Even on the tough days.”
As part of her Ironman build-up, Renee will also compete in the Tata Mumbai Marathon, using the race as a key training marker rather than a standalone goal.
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