Andoni Rumayor: the first Saltillo native headed to the full Ironman World Championship

At 37 years old, Andoni Rumayor Belausteguigoitia has become the first athlete from Saltillo to qualify for the full Ironman World Championship , one of the most demanding triathlon competitions internationally. His story is marked by the search for health, personal direction, and discipline he found in sports after the death of his father.

It was at age 18 that he began running as a way to channel his grief. Six months later, his mother gave him a bicycle, and soon after, he participated in his first triathlons with the support of Rodolfo Riojas , his first guide in Saltillo . Triathlon, initially an emotional outlet, became a way of life.

Before that, Andoni played American football in high school, as well as tennis and taekwondo in his childhood. After a break motivated by his academic and professional training—he is a lawyer and accountant—and building a family with his wife, Ana Lucía , he returned to the sport in 2022 with middle-distance competitions. That year, he participated in the Ironman 70.3 in Cozumel , and in 2023, he qualified for the Half Ironman World Championship in St. George, Utah , held in Finland .

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The jump to the full distance came with his debut at the Ironman in Vitoria, Spain , in 2023. There, he achieved a time of 9:47, becoming the first Saltillo native to complete a full Ironman in under 10 hours. However, that performance wasn't enough to qualify, so he looked for a new opportunity. He found it in Lake Placid, New York , a more technical circuit with steep climbs, ideal for his build.

On July 20, 2024, under adverse conditions and with over 70% of the competition under rain, Rumayor completed the challenge and qualified for the Ironman World Championship , to be held on September 15 in Nice, France . In that competition, he will have to swim 3.8 km, cycle 180 km, and run 42.2 km.

His training is led by Spanish coach Eduard Barceló, who guides him remotely through the Training Peaks platform. Although he competes in the age group and not as a professional athlete, Andoni maintains a high competitive level without institutional support, financing his training and travel himself.

For him, every race is also a tribute. In Lake Placid, he dedicated every kilometer of the marathon to his loved ones, including his father and grandparents. Mental strength, he says, was key to completing the final stretch.

Representing Saltillo in a world competition is a source of pride. For young people new to the sport, he advises them to find a good mentor, enjoy the process, and be consistent. “The triathlon gives you discipline, health, and teaches you how to make decisions when things don't go as planned,” he summarizes.

For now, his goal is clear: to compete in Nice . After that, there's a break, and then, perhaps, new destinations and challenges.