In this episode

Angela Marlagkoutsou describes returning to triathlon after her second daughter and knee operations, with consistent guidance and family support.

The episode moves from 70.3 and national championships to a 24-hour Floga swim and personal fuelling choices, without presenting them as prescriptions.

Detailed show notes

Swimming, family and a fresh start

She grew up between Argos and Nafplio, swimming from an early age at the Argos Nautical Club. After having children and three knee operations, she returned to structured training in late 2020. She works as an interior designer, dividing time between the office and construction sites.

Her first triathlon was Psatha in 2014, without preparation, on a borrowed bike and with her helmet backwards. At the time, it remained a one-off experience. A serious return came with a coach and a consistent programme.

70.3, nerves and a slot

Middle distance suits her because there is time to recover from a poor swim. Pre-race anxiety is intense, but she settles once racing. At Costa Navarino 70.3, she placed third in her age group and accepted a slot for the World Championship in Nice; she had declined a similar opportunity in 2022.

Ironman distance is not ruled out, but it is not the next step. She first wants to see how Nice goes. Running remains the hardest part; swimming is her favourite.

Everyday life and national championships

She lives with her two daughters and Christos. Training fits early in the morning or when her husband is home. She does not want to take time from the children to chase “something more”.

She attended the national championships in 2023. In the sprint, she won the title by fractions over Rania Nomikou. She does not clearly repeat the second-place Olympic-distance result herself. Valencia in 2025 disappointed her: sixth in her age group, without the feeling she had hoped for.

Fuelling and 24 hours in the water

She works with a nutritionist. On the bike, she targets high carbohydrate intake; on the run, she is more conservative. The figures discussed are personal, not recommendations.

On 21 January 2024, she swam for 24 hours with Christos in a 25 m pool in Argos for Floga. They took turns and stayed connected with people through the night. The watch showed approximately 84–85 km in total. Recovering from the swim volume took months.

What stays with her

She says she is not chasing the goal of “becoming a champion”. She wants consistency, enjoyment in racing and room for family. Her next major event is the 70.3 World Championship in Nice.

Key takeaways

  • Returning to triathlon after children and injuries is possible with a plan and support at home.
  • Middle distance gives her time to recover from a poor start; Ironman distance remains an option, not an urgency.
  • Fuelling is discussed as personal experimentation with a specialist, not a prescription for everyone.
  • A 24-hour charity swim is an endurance and organisational challenge, not just kilometres.