Claudia Kelly
24
YEARS OLD
QLD
BMD NORTHCLIFFE SLSC
19th
2024/2025 SERIES
Ski
STRENGTH
Bio
Currently studying Immumology and Patholoy full time at the University of Otago in Dunedin (basically Antarctica, bottom of NZ she adds), NZ-based Claudia Kelly will be crossing the ditch to train with BMD Northcliffe SLSC leading up to her Shaw and Partners Iron Series debut last season. She has had successful campaigns with the NZ Junior Black Fins and Black Fins but has struggled with foot injuries over domestic seasons – six broken feet. Kelly is proud to be from East End Surf Squad in Taranaki, where she’s been since she was 4 years old and says she will always train and compete with them in NZ. Outside of surf sports and studying, Kelly is a swim coach in Dunedin and loves going for a board, surf, or paddle between classes.
Claudia, how old were you when youstarted surf lifesaving and why?
4 years old – my family lived by the beach and wanted to be safe and have fun in the water!
Who was your hero growing up in and out of surf lifesaving?
Haz, G and Dmack!
(Harriet Brown, Georgia Fitszimmons, Danielle Richards)
What is the best piece of advice that you have ever been given?
Remember where you came from!
Your advice for aspiring Shaw and Partners Iron Athletes?
Keeping a healthy body and mind is the key to success! Working hard is important, but fuelling enough for training, getting those recovery days in and enjoying the process and the sport is absolutely key!
What is your favourite type of music?
Taylor Swift (she is a genre in herself)
Claudia, what has been a high and low in your IronWoman journey?
High: Making the Shaw and Partners Iron Series and winning a round of Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series ski all in about two weeks last season was absolutely unreal.
Low: I nearly retired after a bad injury in 2023/24 season and didn’t know whether to come back, but after a couple months without training I knew I wasn’t finished… now I’m loving getting more and more confident each time I race and stoked to be back in the Shaw and Partners Iron Series!
Do you have any race day superstitions?
Nope, just gotta have my porridge and a coffee!
Do you have a secret talent?
Cramming for an exam.