Kelly Wettland did this interview from her trainer (“Sorry!”), not long after missing her college graduation to race WTCS Yokohama (not sorry), six months after leading the U of A team to its second straight D1 title with her individual overall win. Now she’s got her eyes set on LA28, the U23 World Champ title, and a law degree – and absolutely nothing can stop her.
“Engine-wise, it’s all there,” says U of A coach, Wes Johnson. “Psychologically, she knows how to win. If it comes down to a sprint, she’ll almost always win. She’s a fighter.”
Kelly’s also an effervescent ball of positivity, grit, and determination, who walked straight from the Wildcat swim team onto the tri team halfway through her freshman year, and helped create its winning culture. Being around her – or or simply talking to her on the phone – it’s impossible not to feel her passion for sports, life, and self-discovery.
Discovery #1: She’s a stellar triathlete.
Kelly, now 22, grew up swimming in Tennessee. When her family moved to New Mexico her senior year of high school – a move that could crush a kid – Kelly simply joined the cross country team (easy to talk to people) and “made awesome friends,” as she says. “I didn’t count on liking to run.”
She’d committed to swimming for the Naval Academy with the ultimate goal of becoming a JAG, a judge advocate general. (A career she’s still pursuing; she’s earning a Masters in International Security Studies.) But a stress fracture in her fibula meant she couldn’t do summer bootcamp, which meant she couldn’t enroll until the following year. So she headed to U of A to kick off college, planning to return to the Naval Academy sophomore year. Then she found triathlon.
In January of her first year at U of A, she walked right into Wes’s office, told him she could swim and run, and that she wanted to be part of his nascent team. “He just needed people to be on the start line at that point,” she says. “I was like, I can do that!”
Absolute modesty. What came next is a swift rise to excellence: back-to-back D1 team championships, her individual D1 win, and countless WTCS races around the world, including 2nd place overall – and first out of the water – at Huatulco in June.
Watching friends graduate from the Naval Academy this year, she realized what a different path her life has taken from what she’d envisioned four years ago.
“I didn’t think this is what I wanted for myself,” Kelly says, “Now I can’t imagine another way to live.”
Below, Kelly gives a look into her approach to the sport, and her winning mindset as she zeroes in on LA28.
CHOOSE YOUR TEAM WISELY
“Any time someone asks me for recruiting advice now, I say you’ve got to find a place where you feel like you’re part of the team. You can’t go somewhere just for the facilities, the money. If you don’t feel at home, you’re not gonna have a good time.”
To note: Kelly helped make her team a place her teammates felt at home. “Her soul was made to be a leader,” says U of A coach, Wes Johnson. “She’s so genuine. She expects a high standard, in a genuine and friendly way.”
LOVE THY TEAMMATES
“I valued friendships before, but now I think they’re one of the more important things in my life. We’ve had so many people on the team from international places. I’ve gotten to see so much and become a better person because of knowing them.”
STAY BUSY
“I feel like I’m a better person, better teammate, and daughter when I have my feet in multiple different places. Continuing to go to school is really important for me so I can continue progressing in multiple spheres of my life."
Kelly's mom served in the Air Force and National Guard. "Her service is something I've always really admired about her."
IT’S OK TO START ‘LATE’
“In the immediate future, I’m doing everything I can to get to the games. Even if it doesn’t happen, I don’t want to look back, and be like, man, I wish.”
“I’ve seen a lot of people, especially on the higher end, start to lose their joy for the sport. I started when I was 19. Everything still feels so fun and different. I hope I can keep on being grateful and love it. I’m so happy and grateful for the opportunity to do this, and for everyone who helped make it possible.”
STATE YOUR GOALS
“From a results standpoint, I want to win it all.”
KELLY’S FAVES
Workout- “I like days where you have a double run and a swim. I feel the most natural in the water. Double runs are cool because you have a morning run and feel all proud of yourself, then you go swim. Then you go run easy in the afternoon, and you feel like, I’m just a beast!”
“I love bricks and race simulations. They always get me pumped up. It usually means we’re doing a race soon, too. It puts me in a good headspace.”
Psychup Songs - “My backup career is a spin instructor because I really love dance pop. I grew up on Green Day and classic rock. Of course I love Taylor Swift.”
“If there’s a moment to listen to music, I will. Before my last race I was listening to Money for Nothing, by Dire Straits.”
Race - “Tizzy is so cool.” (A World Cup race in Hungary.)
KELLY’S PRE-RACE PEP TALK
To her teammates: “Dude, you do this every day. If you’re nervous about performing, just look at the receipts. You got this. There’s nothing you really can’t do. You’ve done hard stuff. I believe in you.”
BE A DOG
“I don’t think swimming ever gets easier, just a little more natural. You are awesome. Swimming is so hard. You just gotta be a dog sometimes. People want to swim over you, you can’t let them. These people, they’re animals. You gotta be a bigger animal. There’s nothing you can’t do. That’s kind of my swimming mindset.”
Keep up with Kelly's adventures around the globe @klwetteland.
We’re so proud to support Kelly and all of the athletes chasing big goals and getting after them. Let's go.
