Luiza Cravo

Luiza Cravo is a two-time Brazilian National Triathlon Championships runner-up, but she owes a lot of her success to her former boyfriend and now husband. It was he who gave her the inspiration to take up her passion at a young age.

As Cravo explains, she was initially running recreationally before being convinced to take up triathlon professionally.

“I started to date a triathlete when I was just running for a bit of fun and he would be dreaming about becoming a professional whereas I wanted to become a judge.

“But as soon as I finished with my education, I became a professional triathlete. He is now an engineer and we are happily married!”

From that moment on, Luiza has gone on to have plenty of success in Brazil and on the global circuit.

Her highlights include winning at IRONMAN 70.3 Coquimbo in 2017 and taking fourth at 70.3 Rio de Janeiro in 2017 and second in 2019. Cravo also finished 24th in the 70.3 World Championship in Nice in 2019 (having occupied the same finishing position in Chattanooga two years previously).

She says her legacy surrounds her family, who weren’t particularly active in the past, but now love sports and see how important it is for them.

“My mum has learned how to swim at the age of 56 and my little brother is already training for triathlon events and he is my biggest fan,” Luiza explains.

Her favourite discipline of the three is cycling, as she loves the freedom that comes with riding, exploring new roads and mountains (something that isn't as easily done whilst running).

Luiza says her least favourite aspect of the triathlon is swimming as it’s the hardest, but she enjoys it all the same.

Her favourite training locations are Boulder in Colorado and Campos do Jordão in Brazil. She often trains alongside Djnyfer Arnold.

Cravo’s favourite time of year is Christmas as that is when her family get together and share some old stories.

And if she had two pieces of advice to give out, it would be to enjoy the process and to focus on execution, not necessarily results.