“With a lot of hard work I can be right up at the top of long distance triathlon racing.” CAMERON MAIN
“With a lot of hard work I can be right up at the top of long distance triathlon racing.” CAMERON MAIN
An honest and open interview with leading British triathlete Cameron Main explaining his motivations for moving from short-form to long-form triathlon. (All images credited to Ironman Triathlon).
Why the change to long-form tri?
The main reason for changing to long form triathlon is because I don’t fully feel supported by British Triathlon. Throughout my whole short course career I have felt left in the dark by British Triathlon because of poor communication when it comes to the World Class Programme and selection policies, lack of respect and limited ability to treat athletes fairly and as equals.
The sad news that there is no triathlon in the Commie Games in 2026 and the uncertainty of the Games moving forward in the future. The Commie Games is the only chance I get to represent Scotland, without this driving factor, it is challenging for me to find the motivation to stay in the short course game.
Lack of commercial awareness that short course have compared to long course. Ironman Tri have over 1.2 million followers on Instagram compared to the 400k that World Triathlon have. The exposure you get for winning a professional Ironman event compared to a World Triathlon event is significantly more. Moreover, I believe the governance/organisation of Ironman Tri is at a much higher level than World Triathlon, making race experiences much more enjoyable.

Image credit: Ironman Triathlon
Why now in 2025?
From a financial perspective, I have never been a British-funded athlete and don’t have any sponsorships. Making the change to long course triathlon is the only financially sustainable way of staying in the sport I love.
Finally, I am 25 years old now, my motivation has changed and I want a new challenge. I truly believe with a lot of hard work I can be right up at the top of long distance racing over the next 10-15 years and I am excited to learn and develop in a slightly different sport.

Image credit: Ironman Triathlon
What excites you about the move?
I am really looking forward to racing in some new locations, a lot of the Ironman events are held in unique parts of the world and I can’t wait to experience these events. The prize money at a lot of long distance races is very good, this boosts my motivation, because at the end of the day you need money to travel to races, buy new kit and put food on the table. The opportunity to create a great network of friends, sponsorships and other business related relationships. The Ironman Tri community is huge and it’s something I am very excited to be part of.

Image credit: Ironman Triathlon
What will you miss about short-form tri?
The chance to become an Olympian. This was the one key driving factor for staying in short course racing, it’s the one thing I have dreamt of as a kid and has been a very difficult thing to leave behind. The tactical fast pace nature of racing, it was very exciting and would always get me pumped for a race!
What are your targets for long-form tri?
My targets are to be a consistent athlete on the podium at Professional Ironman 70.3 and Ironman events. I would also love to get a T100 contract at some point in the near future, I love what T100 is doing and it’s very exciting to watch. Become a World Champion at either the Ironman 70.3 Champs or Ironman Champs (Kona would be the dream).

Image credit: Ironman Triathlon
Who are the long-form triathletes (male & female) you look up to & want to chase down!
I love what Sam Laidlow has been doing and how he races. He makes racing exciting to watch and it’s very impressive what he is able to do on the bike. The driving factor for a lot of my training sessions on the bike is to close the gap to people like Sam, because that’s the level you have to be at.
Kat Matthews also really impresses me with the way she is able to consistently race at the top of her game. She has shown that with a supportive team around you you can probably push your race season more than you think!
What are the brands you admire & would be keen to work for?
There are so many good brands out there but some of my favourite are:
HUUB (there amazing innovation skills when it comes to aerodynamics and wetsuit comfort/speed)
Cervelo and Canyon (they both have very nice looking bikes/kit and I really like the way they work with their athletes)
ASICS (some of the best shoes I have ran in, they keep things simple and comfortable and that’s what matters most)
EKOI (They seem like a great brand with some impressive science driven equipment)
SIS (Nutrition I have always found works for me. Taste is also very important and I feel SIS have this perfected)
Any predictions for 2025?!
A successful first year as a long distance athlete with a few podiums along the way. I am confident that I will qualify for Marbella (Spain) 70.3 World Champs in November and possibly qualify for Kona World Ironman Championships next year at my first full distance Ironman in December in Busselton (Australia).
I am also hoping to start working more closely with some brands through some successful results early in the season.
Will you still continue your running business alongside long-form?
I am definitely going to be continuing my work with Kinetic Coaching, predominantly focusing on the Online Triathlon coaching section. I am hoping by racing long course events my business will receive more exposure to the right audience, which will allow me to help and coach more people to achieve their goals. https://kineticcoaching.co.uk
Can you give us an update on your amazing Abbie’s Sparkles cancer charity?
Abbie’s Sparkle Foundation is continuing to grow and develop as we continue to hold fundraising events and raise thousands of pounds for children who are affected by cancer. Abbie’s Sparkle Foundation is getting very close to raising 1 million pounds since the charity was founded back in 2017, after Abbie, my sister, passed away. This is an incredible amount of money that I’m sure Abbie would be very happy about. http://abbiessparklefoundation.org