Breaking Barriers: Leslie Battle’s Journey to Transform Triathlon

Breaking Barriers: Leslie Battle is Changing The Face of Endurance Sports

Finding Strength Through Sport

In 2008, Leslie Battle stood at the starting line of her first half marathon. At over 250 pounds, carrying a knapsack and holding an umbrella in the rain, she wasn’t your typical runner. The skeptical looks and raised eyebrows didn’t deter her – she was determined to finish within the cutoff time.

“I remember at the sign-up, this woman I knew through playing tennis said ‘What are you signing up for, the 5K?’ I said ‘the half’ and she gave me a look that was confused and in disbelief,” Leslie recalls. That first race, completed in 3 hours and 28 minutes, marked the beginning of an incredible journey that would transform not only Leslie’s life but the entire landscape of endurance sports.

Breaking Down Barriers

Today, Leslie Battle is a champion triathlete, Boston Marathon qualifier, and passionate advocate for inclusive athletics. She has raced in events worldwide, including Ironman World Championships, and has been instrumental in changing USA Triathlon’s policies regarding Athena and Clydesdale athletes (weight-class divisions).

“Don’t count us out,” became her personal mantra – one that has driven her advocacy work for greater inclusion in triathlon. Through persistence and data-driven arguments, Leslie successfully convinced USAT to allow Athena and Clydesdale athletes to qualify for Team USA, opening doors that were previously closed to many athletes.

Building Community Through Understanding

What sets Leslie’s advocacy apart is her focus on creating genuine connections and understanding. “I don’t get the same sense of camaraderie in triathlon as I do among the Athena triathletes,” she shares. “We’re there to race against each other on the day of, but there’s a high five and genuine camaraderie and hugs. There’s no backstabbing. There’s a common core of understanding, of empathy, of where we’ve been.”

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Overcoming Personal Challenges

Leslie’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Beyond breaking down institutional barriers, she has faced personal obstacles, including losing her hair to alopecia. Rather than letting these challenges define her limits, she used them as fuel to inspire others.

“When I lost my hair, it fell out in seven weeks. I thought overcoming obesity was my challenge, my platform. Then God said ‘hold my beer,'” Leslie says with characteristic humor. She turned this challenge into another opportunity to show others what’s possible, proudly removing her hat at finish lines to show other athletes that success comes in many forms.

Creating Lasting Change

Leslie’s impact on the sport extends far beyond her personal achievements. Her advocacy has led to significant policy changes at USAT, including allowing Athena and Clydesdale athletes to race alongside their peers at ALL USAT national championships and the opportunity to qualify by time as members on Team USA. These changes have opened doors for countless Athena and Clydesdale athletes. Previously, they were denied the opportunity to compete for and earn slots to represent their country based solely on having registered in a weight based competitive division at USAT Nationals, and not based on any consideration of the athlete’s comparative performance against athletes in their respective age groups.

Times have changed.  Now, all dues paying USAT members can compete to earn membership on Team USA and  engage in high-level of competition at The World Triathlon and Multisport Championships. These changes are impacting athletes today and well into the future.

Advice for New Athletes

For those facing their own challenges in endurance sports, Leslie offers practical wisdom: “When you’re in that dark spot where you’re hurting, talk to people. When I’m hurting, I say ‘Let’s go’ to others walking. Just to the next pole, just to the next light pole.”

She emphasizes the importance of finding your community: “Find a training group. It just makes it easier when you have someone expecting you to be somewhere. Whether you’re gay, black, whatever – if you have that comfort level, you are more likely to show up. If that’s what it takes to get you to become active, I’m all for it.”

Looking Forward

Leslie continues to race, advocate, and inspire. Her work with USAT’s leadership, including CEO Victoria Brumfield, focuses on expanding opportunities for athletes of all backgrounds. “When they’re talking about increasing visibility and participation and diversity, you got to walk the walk all the way through and make it make sense,” she states.

Through her persistence, passion, and dedication to inclusion, Leslie Battle has shown that endurance sports can truly be for everybody – and every body. Her legacy isn’t just in the races she’s won or the policies she’s changed, but in the doors she’s opened for future generations of athletes.

“The ones who have no clue about the struggles we’ve gone through to get to this place, it’ll be just par for the course,” Leslie reflects. “They will think: Hey, this is the way it’s always been. I’ll think to myself, we did it!”

Leslie Battle is breaking barriers and changing the face of endurance sports for the future and for all.

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