Where Are They Now? 2024 Marks a Comeback Year for Canadian Couple
We talk to Sophia and Brian Chadwick about their reappearance in Swimrun this year, what they love about the sport, and how to balance busy lives with training and racing goals.
By Jennifer Ward
Canadians Brian and Sophia Chadwick got engaged at the finish line of ÖTILLÖ Isle of Scilly in 2018. “Brian’s mom handed him the ring after we crossed the finish line; he was smart enough not to carry it with him the whole day,” Sophia says. “He (painfully) got down onto one knee!” For their honeymoon in 2019, they competed in ÖTILLÖ Cannes.
The couple now have three young kids (ages 7, 4, and 2), but they haven’t let their busy lives get in the way of their athletic passions. They returned to the ÖTILLÖ scene this summer in Whistler, just a short trip from their home on Vancouver Island.
“It was too close and too tempting not to go,” Sophia explains. “We’re so happy we did–it was AMAZING.”
She adds that while they both had their struggles on the day, “the course was great, the trails were phenomenal, and the swims were gorgeous. Whistler is just such a fun place to be, so it was a great weekend.”
After years away from the race scene raising a family, Sophia (who competed at the ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship in 2016) said she saw Whistler as a bit of a comeback. “I’m pretty competitive, although, with Brian’s work schedule, I don’t think we will ever be in a competitive spot. I think I’ll need to find a new partner if I ever want to try to qualify for Worlds again!”
The Chadwicks went on to race ÖTILLÖ Orcas Island in September, rounding out their comeback year nicely.
When we asked her why she loves Swimrun, Sophia, who grew up in British Columbia’s Okanagan (where triathlon ruled supreme), said she loves how rugged it feels versus the more “straightforward” nature of triathlon: “No race is ever the same, and you’re always wondering if you are going the right way,” she laughs.
Sophia adds that she and Brian both love the team nature of Swimrun: “During Whistler, we kept saying “can you IMAGINE doing this alone?!” “There are pros and cons to racing with your spouse,” she says. “On the positive side, I feel more comfortable opening up to Brian if I’m in a dark place or struggling with something.”
In addition to their busy family, Sophia is a physiotherapist, and Brian is a physician and Medical Director at a major Victoria hospital. How do they fit it all in?
“I’m the type of person who will get up super early to get my training in. If I only have 45 minutes, I’ll do a quick hard workout,” Sophia says. “Brian is lucky if he gets one run in a week and maybe two swims a month!”
Sophia adds that the couple does a lot of handing off if they’re in the final build to a race, or they hire a babysitter on the weekend so they can try to fit in a 2-3 hour Swimrun. “It’s definitely NOT ideal and very, very, very difficult!” she adds.
Despite the scheduling challenges, they continue signing up for races. “I think Swimrun appeals to people who don’t have a lot of time because the running and swimming distances throughout the day aren’t super long,” Sophia reflects. “Yes, the day overall is long and daunting, but having shorter swims and runs broken up throughout a course makes it more approachable.”
Next time you see the Chadwicks on a start line, throw them a high five–and maybe warn Brian that if he wants to keep his competitive wife as his Swimrun partner, he’d better step up his game!
