Jolein's feet burned as they struck the pavement. She'd lost count of the number of steps she'd taken, as all that repeated in her mind was 'the cycling is done, it’s almost over – just a bit of running left, and my coach will be waiting proudly at the finish line.'
She heard the crowd before she saw them. Cheers and shouts of encouragement.
Then her coach came into frame. The ache in her legs faded, still present, but her mind could overpower it. She was going to make it.
That was the grueling triathlon Jolein completed in 2025. Now she's ready to help cheer on the 31 Special Olympics triathletes preparing to lay it all on the line just like she did.
As the 5th Special Olympics European Triathlon Competition, hosted by Special Olympics Slovakia, nears (23 May 2026), Special Olympics followed up with Jolein Boom, a triathlete competing with Special Olympics Netherlands and competitor in the 2025 edition in Šamorin.
Jolein, born and raised in Finsterwolde, the Netherlands, was like many people around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic; she needed a hobby. Jolein’s boredom eventually drove her to take advantage of the outdoors and explored the idea of going for runs which she soon found to not only enjoy, but that she was quite good at.
Continuing to run, growing faster and stronger, she spoke with her father who suggested she try triathlons as she was already a good swimmer and biker, and now runner.
Beginning her triathlon journey, Jolein trained 5 days a week in the 3 disciplines’ specific exercises working on performing them properly with the right techniques, practicing harder and more advanced techniques each week.
With triathlon being not as common of a sport globally yet, Jolein found it easier and more accessible to train at local sport clubs specializing in swimming, biking, and running separately. There she was among athletes with and without intellectual disabilities, all training and competing as a team. “I trained a lot with other athletes; they aren’t from the triathlon world, but we are doing the same sport at that moment. It’s fun and you learn a lot from each other,” shared Jolein.
Asking Jolein about how she stays motivated and locked in during a long, grueling race she spoke about her mentality, “I just continue to think that once the cycling is done, it’s almost over – just a bit of running left, and my coach will be waiting proudly at the finish line.”
The Championship is Challenge Family’s flagship middle-distance event, where the best age-group and professional triathletes from around the world qualify to race for ultimate bragging rights and the title of Champion of The Championship. It will take place in Šamorín, Slovakia on 23-24 May 2026, it will also host the 5th edition of Special Olympics European Triathlon Competition in sprint distance (750m swim, 20km bike, and a 5km run). This year, 31 Special Olympics triathletes from 10 different countries are set to compete – a race not for the fainthearted.
Triathlon combines the three sequential disciplines - swimming, cycling, and running – in a fixed order with no breaks in between, only transition zones. It is an endurance sport and athletes train in all three as well as practice their seamless transitions from one discipline to the next. The sport is extremely demanding on an athlete's body and mind.
Special Olympics has been building its global triathlon program since 2015, with over 2,000 triathletes now competing in 35 Special Olympics programs across 4 regions each year.
Kester Edwards, Special Olympics Manager of Sport and Development, has personally seen to growing the triathlon program at Special Olympics after he helped make open-water swimming an official Special Olympics sport.
In his 30+ years with the movement as both an athlete and as a staff member, Edwards has gained valuable knowledge and insight into triathlons and how to help Special Olympics athletes compete in it. “Triathlon is a sport that challenges the body and mind,” Edwards shared.
“For Special Olympics triathletes, the sport challenges them across three unique disciplines, showcasing their individual grit and determination all the way through the finish line.”
Edwards continued, “Since 2010, when the Special Olympics Latin America region hosted the first-ever triathlon event, each of our flagship events – World Summer Games – triathlon has been featured. Now triathlon is in 3 additional Special Olympics regions with 35 programs, over 2,000 athletes, and 597 coaches.”
The sport of triathlon encourages athletes of all abilities and ages to compete at their optimum level, allowing individuals to compete at their own pace and work towards beating their previous personal best record.
Keep up with the 2026 Special Olympics European Triathlon Competition results.
