TAYLOR KNIBB CROWNED PTO US OPEN CHAMPION

We caught up with with 2XU Athlete and recent PTO US Open Champion Taylor Knibb to hear her post race reflections following her recent win at PTO US Open, she is one to watch having recently won the 2022 70.3 World Championships, Ironman 70.3 Boulder and now the PTO US Open.

Tell us  about your preparation going into the US Open?

My preparation for the race was good, but not perfect. I had a great block in July and was grateful to be able to race, it’s still a new(er) distance for me and it’s a super competitive race, so you never know what’s going to happen until race day. 

What was the atmosphere like out there?
It was a great atmosphere, I think in part since USAT Age Group Nationals and Youth/Junior Nationals were held the same weekend and there were so many people out on course. 

What are your reflections on the race and your experience?

The whole four-day trip was a great experience for me, I am not too psyched about my swim and bike however they were the best I had on the day, so I can’t expect or ask any more out of myself. I was lacking a bit of speed and power but I’m grateful that I was able to run well and that surprised me a bit. I’m grateful for the experience, but definitely mixed emotions. 

What motivates you?

I think I have a lot of different motivators in my life. For triathlon, the main ones are that I love the sport and I love the process of challenging myself, working to improve, and doing things that I’ve never been able to do before. The days when you shock yourself in the most positive way are just incredible. My strength coach, Erin, was telling me a few weeks ago that almost all motivations can be boiled down to one of two categories: love or fear. I guess most of my motivations for triathlon boil down to love in some way. There’s definitely also some fear, fear that I’m not good enough, fear that a past result or output was a fluke etc. But for the most part it’s a love of the sport and what I do each day.

After a big race like the US open, what does recovery look like for you?

As soon as I got back to my room and showered, I got on my 2XU compression socks and tights. Yes, maybe a bit overkill, but I like the double compression. That’s the same way I flew home (different pair of tights and socks though) and I’ve been focusing on sleep, good nutrition, and continuing to move my body so far this week. I only have six days at home before flying out for my next race, so recovery is crucial. 

What are your favourite 2XU products and why?

Vectr Cushion Crew Compression Socks: these are my favorite socks. They don’t move around, the ankle is snug, but the sock itself isn’t too tight. These are my favorite socks to run, ride, and race in. Even though they fit so well, they are easy to get on and I had the fastest T2 putting them on. 

Light Speed Compression Tights: I love all of the 2XU tights I have but really like the Light Speed Compression Tights. They’re super comfortable, I like the way they make my legs feel while I’m wearing them and then after having worn them (vs. not). Post-surgery, I was psyched the day I could fit the tights over my bandages. 

Vectr Light Cushion Full Length Compression Socks : I wear these especially for travel, post race, or extended periods of sitting, I like the sock coming up to the knee and I actually started wearing these socks halfway through college for while I was studying (and sitting for hours at a time day after day) and my legs and body felt a lot better. 

Performance Visor: I have a smaller head and these visors not only fit really well, but do not seem to stretch out at all (which was a problem with previous visors I had with the elastic band). So it stays in place while I run and it also acts as a sweat band. 

Aero 5” Shorts: I just tried these and I’m kind of picky about my running shorts as they need to be the right length, material, and fit. I don’t love my running shorts too tight or short or long or baggy. Somehow, these fit the standard and after I tried one pair I ordered another four so now I have five pairs. 


What’s next for you? are you chasing any big goals?

Next up, I have the Paris Test Event on August 17th and then 70.3 Worlds on August 26th. We’ll see how they go!

What advice would you give to someone wanting to chase their dreams in triathlon?

I hope they go for it! Sport in general is incredible and so is triathlon specifically. It’s a journey and there definitely can be tough times, but the challenges and lessons you learn are so valuable, it can be so rewarding and fulfilling, and the people you’ll get to meet along the way are incredible. 

All Photos provided by: Professional Triathletes Org