Triathlon and glaciers: Aurélie Martin’s eco-challenge
In this podcast episode, I welcome Aurélie Martin, a member of Climatosportifs who has decided to do a Glacier Odyssey, a committed triathlon in the footsteps of the biggest glaciers in the Alps to raise awareness of glacier melt.
Watch the video interview
Listen to the podcast
Episode summary
Aurélie Martin is a 26-year-old triathlete with a passion for the mountains and a commitment to the ecological transition. Based in Annecy, she has launched an original project: a triathlon dedicated to glaciers, to draw attention to their melting and raise public awareness of climate issues.
From awareness-raising to eco-adventure
With a degree in public law and political science, Aurélie took an early interest in environmental issues.
Now a vegetarian, refusing to own a car and reducing her carbon footprint, she has gradually strengthened her commitment by joining associations such as Climatosportifs.
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Professionally, she worked in sustainable sports development before setting up her own business in environmental awareness.
When triathlon meets glaciers
Based in Annecy, France, Aurélie discovered triathlon and devoted herself to it with a passion. She quickly came up with the idea of combining sport and climate by inventing an original format: replacing running with glacier walking.
His project: to complete three triathlons in the Alpine massifs where the French glaciers are concentrated (Mont-Blanc, Écrins, Vanoise). Each adventure begins with a swim in an alpine lake, continues by bike and ends on a glacier.
Support for a collective and a program
Aurélie is an active member of Climatosportifs, a group of athletes committed to making their practices more virtuous. She holds the role of community manager.
His project also benefits from MAIF’s Sport Planète program, which provides financial, media and scientific support, notably through the assistance of a paleoclimatologist.
Preparation and logistics for an extraordinary challenge
Already a keen sportswoman, Aurélie has stepped up her training, particularly in open-water swimming and cycling. She has also learned about safety in glacial environments.
In addition to the physical effort involved, logistics represented a major challenge: managing equipment for the three disciplines, coordinating travel by soft mobility and, at the same time, organizing awareness-raising activities and communicating about the project.
Raising awareness in the heart of the Alps
Aurélie has chosen to integrate her triathlons into existing sporting events, such as the AlpsMan or an open-water swimming race in Serre-Ponçon, to reach a wide audience.
She has also organized meetings with schoolchildren, collaborated with local associations and invited other athletes to share part of her journey. But she also highlights the difficulties of legitimacy encountered with certain players.
Between wonder and obstacles
Each discipline brings its own emotions, but the glacier walk remains the most powerful moment: setting foot on the ice, facing these grandiose, threatened landscapes.
Among the difficulties, the weather restricted certain stages, and swimming represented a personal challenge, with Aurélie admitting her apprehension of open water. But she came away proud to have overcome her fears.
The rest of the adventure
After Mont Blanc and the Écrins, Aurélie is preparing the final stage in the Vanoise in the autumn. In addition to this project, she plans to pursue her professional commitment to mountain regions, working with associations and nature parks.
A message for sportswomen
Aurélie encourages all women to dare to set off on adventures, even alone. She reminds us of the importance of multiplying female role models in the mountains, in sport and in science.