Challenge Roth 2025: Triathlon star Joe Skipper comes back from the brink for another shot at iconic race
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing
The last few years have not always been easy for Joe Skipper. A bronze medallist at the ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships in 2015, Skipper’s career took off when he managed 10 middle or long-distance wins over the next eight years.
But he has hasn’t won a triathlon event since he triumphed at IRONMAN Lake Placid in July of 2023, and didn’t manage a single podium in 2024.
Now, he’s looking to put all that behind him by taking another shot at Challenge Roth, where he’s finished in the top five on four separate occasions.
“Pretty frustrating”
‘Not Another Average Joe’ posted on his Instagram: “I would say I’m going into this race in decent fitness but just need to execute on the day which I have struggled to do over the last two years.
“It’s been pretty frustrating going into races in what feels like decent form but then underperforming or not feeling yourself on race day.
“I would be lying if I said it hasn’t made me question myself, ask myself questions like will I ever win another race, have I got what it takes anymore! It’s been a difficult time.”
Joe Skipper finished fifth at Challenge Roth 2023 [Photo credit: Challenge Roth]
Skipper admitted in March that he even considered quitting the sport last year, when injuries played a part, and forced him out of the water completely over the winter.
While his 2025 actually started with a promising second-placed finish at IRONMAN New Zealand, he followed that up with a DNF at IRONMAN Austria in June.
But the 37-year-old is back on his feet now, training hard, and feels he could be about to turn a corner as he looks to get his career back on track.
“Bad times don’t last”
He said: “If anyone reading this has been through tough times whether that be in sport or in life in general just know you aren’t alone, we all go through tough times in life and the bad times don’t last, the sun always rises.
“As Rocky said: ‘It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward’.
“A result for me on Sunday will be feeling decent on race day and executing my best result, if i can do this i think i will be competitive!”
Joe Skipper wins IRONMAN Lake Placid 2023 (Patrick McDermott, Getty Images for IRONMAN).
Discover more
Go behind the scenes at Challenge Roth with the latest episode of the TRI247 podcast
The triathlon cycling shoe that promises a 10-watt saving: Cadomotus Chronos Aero triathlon cycling shoes review
Five things you need to know about the Challenge Roth bike course
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
latest News
3 Jul 2025
Challenge Roth 2025: Laura Philipp backed to make triathlon history by crashing through magical time barrier
3 Jul 2025
Challenge Roth 2025: Date, start times, how to watch live and who’s racing
3 Jul 2025
British Olympic legend Georgia Taylor-Brown to make triathlon return
2 Jul 2025
‘Unbreakable’ Gwen Jorgensen ‘bruised’ after bike crash but vows to bounce back
2 Jul 2025
IRONMAN announce new age-group qualification system for Kona and 70.3 Worlds
