The 2024 Calley Homes Tauranga Half has sent shockwaves through the New Zealand Triathlon and Multisport communities with the announcement that Ironman World Champion – Chelsea Sodaro will be on the Pilot Bay start line in January.

Chelsea Sodaro took the triathlon world by storm in 2022 when winning the Ironman World Championship in Kona.

She clocked the fastest debut time of 8:33:45 – beating out huge names Lucy Charles-Barclay and Anne Haug.

What makes it all the more remarkable, is that she had given birth to her daughter Skylar 18 months prior.

It has been a meteoric rise in the sport for Sodaro who only took up triathlon in 2017, after narrowly missing out on making the US track team for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Dedicating herself to triathlon training, Sodaro was immediately besotted with the sport and achieved her first ITU podium in her debut season.

After taking gold at the 2018 ITU World Cup, Sodaro transitioned to middle distance racing, where she began winning 70.3 events from the outset.

She achieved a top five finish in her first Ironman 70.3 World Championships, before her career defining triumph in Kona. She is now a household name in every sphere of triathlon.

The world class triathlete now heads to NZ with the connection between Sodaro and the 2024 Calley Homes Tauranga Half coming from her kiwi coach Dan Plews. 

In Sodaro’s words – “My coach, Dan Plews has said wonderful things about the event. 

"I'm excited to be a part of the action in 2024.

"My goal for the first part of the season is to have fun and get inspired by racing in beautiful places. I think the Calley Homes Tauranga Half will deliver!”

Sodaro finished 6th at 2023 Ironman World Championships at Kona saying post-race – “it was not the magical day I dreamed on, but maybe my proudest finish ever.” 

Since then - “I took a big break after Kona and am just starting to get back in the groove of training”.

Sodaro will be looking to start 2024 on a winning note, and can’t wait to be in NZ for the event on 20 January saying – “I have friends who live in the area who have shown me photos of beautiful Mt Maunganui.

"I can't wait to get there.”

For naming rights sponsor, Calley Homes securing Sodaro to the 2024 is a major coup.

Their vision when they got involved with the event was to further elevate its status by bringing out a world-class triathlete in 2024.

Company director – Johnny Calley says “having Chelsea Sodaro on the start line of the Calley Homes Tauranga Half is fantastic.

The race already has iconic status within New Zealand’s sporting calendar but the long-term vison from all the event stakeholders is for it to become just as iconic in international circles with professionals and age group athletes.

Chelsea Sodaro’s position on the start line is going to make for an epic race, and I can’t wait to see the battles unfold on the course.

Women’s sport is on the rise at the moment, and the Calley Homes Tauranga Half is going to add more excitement to that status.”

In addition to Calley Homes Tauranga Half, entries have been strong for the other events at the Fulton Hogan Mount Festival – the Aquabike, Pressio Mount Festival Half Marathon and Pilot Bay Ocean Swim.

In looking ahead to the 2024 event, Festival Director Julia Tilley said – “we are stoked to have a world class triathlete in Chelsea Sodaro be part of the 35th Anniversary of the Calley Homes Tauranga Half.

"Entries for all events on the Fulton Hogan Mount Festival programme are rolling in, and we hope to see over 2,000 athletes in Mount Maunganui on the 20th of January 2024.”