an unexpected spark
Ayrton Senna observes the performance of his adversary after his abandonment in the first lap following a collision with the Benetton car of Michael Schumacher at the time of the GP of France to the Circuit of Nevers Magny-Cours on July 05, 1992. © Motorsport Images
With winter training in full swing and 2025 already over a month in, I have set my eyes on some big goals for the season, with a focus on the long distance I now know I love so much. I say that, but at the same time I also have full awareness of what it takes to do it, and in that spirit, I always proceed ‘with caution’, knowing I will have to do some work to find the inner drive and motivation to get it done. And as an amateur, the questioning is always stronger; we know we don’t need to do this, so we’d better have some answers as to why we are doing it, especially when the going gets tough.
The winter has been tough thus far! It’s the first one I’m spending away from my club’s base and even though my friends come out every once in a while to ride together, the default is me on my own. It has been difficult at times especially with the dull, cold weather. The grind has put me well in the search for these whys and has made me even fearful for what lies ahead, just because I don’t really have the answers ready.
And then, last week, almost out of the blue, there was this massive trigger that I am here to write about. In fact it caused me so much emotional charge that writing about it was the only way I could relieve it…
Discovering a hero and losing him at the same time
My brother is into motorsport, and Ayrton Senna is his hero—I knew that much about him being ‘special.’ So when I saw that Netflix had a six-episode series on him, I added it to my list right away. After all, like many, I’m a post-Drive to Survive Formula 1 fan! But I don’t think it’s a coincidence that my appreciation for the sport has grown alongside my own involvement in endurance athletics—there are so many parallels.
Watching Senna left me profoundly moved. It was a slow-building heartbreak because, of course, we all know how his story ends. As the episodes go by, the more you admire him, the more you brace yourself for the inevitable. It’s gut-wrenching. And beautifully made.
His story is incredibly powerful—not just because of his extraordinary talent and tragic end but because of what he represented. He was so much more than just a racing driver; a symbol of dedication, purpose, and human spirit. Discovering him now, so many years later, felt like forming a deep connection with someone who embodies everything I admire, only to realize their story has already reached its heartbreaking conclusion. It left me feeling both inspired and grief-stricken at the same time.
It’s no surprise that many who were alive during his era, and even those who learned about him much later, have felt similarly. His legacy still resonates because he wasn’t just about winning races—he had an intensity and depth that made people feel something beyond sport. The depth of my own reaction caught me off guard; but I chose to lean into it, to explore why his story mattered to me so much. And so here’s what I found…
As a long-distance triathlete, I am no stranger to experiencing the deeper, sometimes of spiritual nature, aspects of endurance sport. The cue is in the name of this website! And that’s exactly where I found a connection with Senna—not just as a competitor, but as someone who approached his craft with an almost transcendent sense of purpose. He embodied a mindset that I believe resonates strongly with endurance athletes: relentless pursuit of excellence, deep personal commitment, and pushing beyond perceived limits. This article is an exploration of what I’ve learned from this mindset and how it aligns with my journey as an endurance athlete. I have a feeling it will be the guiding force I need in the months ahead!
Mental toughness, overcoming adversity, and perseverance
Senna’s defining quality wasn’t just speed—it was resilience. He faced mechanical failures, brutal crashes, political rivalries, and still returned with even more determination. He was never defeated by failure; he was refined by it.
Perhaps the greatest testament to Senna’s perseverance came in the 1991 Brazilian Grand Prix, his home race he hadn’t managed to win until then, where he suffered a gearbox failure late in the race, after being on the lead almost the entire time. Stuck in sixth gear, he had to wrestle his McLaren around the final laps, fighting exhaustion, immense strain, and the looming threat of mechanical failure. When he crossed the finish line victorious, his body was so physically drained that he had to be assisted out of the car and could later barely lift the trophy. His shoulders were locked in pain from the effort, yet he had achieved what seemed impossible.
Long-distance triathlon is, at its core, a test of mental toughness. There are so many moments when the body wants to quit—when the exhaustion of a 100-mile bike ride or a marathon after hours of effort feels insurmountable. But those who succeed are the ones who, like Senna, find a way to push forward.
The ability to endure difficult moments is not something that magically appears on race day; it is cultivated through training, through learning to manage discomfort, and through developing the mindset that setbacks are part of the journey. Every tough session, every missed goal, every painful lesson contributes to the foundation of resilience. Let alone when injury strikes and everything is in question.
The Relentless Pursuit of Excellence
Senna wasn’t just interested in being fast—he was obsessed with being better, every single day. Even when he was already the best on the grid, he would push for that extra fraction of a second, analyzing every aspect of his performance to find an edge. His training was meticulous, his focus unwavering. He didn’t enjoy it when he felt he plateaued.
This mindset mirrors endurance training. Triathlon is a sport of constant refinement—adjusting stroke efficiency in the water, perfecting bike positioning, mastering pacing strategies on the run. It’s about never being satisfied with where you are. The pursuit is endless, not for the sake of vanity, but because excellence is a journey, not a destination.
The incremental progress of daily practice adds up over time. Small adjustments in technique, mindset, and strategy may seem insignificant in isolation, but they compound to create meaningful improvements. The pursuit of mastery is never complete, but it is in this process that true growth happens.
This season I’m making a point of mindfully reminding myself this before every session. And dedicate myself to every detail of it, as if it was the most important. When we train so much, it becomes a habit and it easily feels like something we just have to get through. But I wonder if it would it make a difference being all the more mindful.
Purpose beyond results
Despite his competitive fire, Senna didn’t race solely for trophies. He spoke often about the deeper experience of racing—the feeling of being in perfect harmony with the car, the track, and himself. He sought meaning in his craft beyond just winning.
It reminded me one of my favourite moments during my Ironman race last year, about 120km into the bike, when I felt like one with it, going fast, almost effortlessly.
In endurance sports, it’s easy to fixate on results—race times, podiums, personal records. But what keeps athletes in the sport for years is not just the numbers; it’s the transformation, the self-discovery, and the sense of fulfillment that comes from the process. And for me, these special moment of transcendence.
Training and racing are more than just physical exertion—they are opportunities for self-exploration, for pushing beyond perceived limits, and for discovering the richness of the experience itself. The finish line is just a moment—the real reward is in the journey taken to get there. And sometime the harder that is, the richer the reward.
Embracing risk and sacrifice
Senna understood risk better than anyone, but he never let fear dictate his approach. He knew that in racing, as in life, playing it safe rarely leads to greatness. In one of his interviews, he talks about overcoming fear by controlling one’s emotions and how satisfying this can be. This same willingness to push the edge is a defining characteristic of endurance athletes.
Training for an Ironman requires immense sacrifice—early mornings, grueling sessions, social sacrifices. There’s always the risk of burnout, injury, or underperforming after months of preparation. But those who achieve their goals are the ones willing to embrace the uncertainty and give themselves fully to the pursuit, with the risk of getting heart-broken by failure again and again.
There is an inherent vulnerability in striving for something difficult. The possibility of failure is always present, but so is the potential for greatness. Accepting this duality is part of what makes endurance sports so transformative. I particularly liked how Senna did not try to hide this aspect of how difficult it all is, even when he was dominating. There was always huge respect for his opponents, similar to how endurance athletes feel around each other, recognising how we’re all in this pursuit together at the end of the day.
The humility of a champion
For all his competitive fire, Senna was known for his humility. In a sport dominated by ego and aggression, he remained deeply introspective, grounded, and compassionate. He carried a strong sense of responsibility to others—whether through his charitable efforts in Brazil or the way he spoke about his connection to something greater than himself.
This humility made him even more compelling as an athlete and as a person. To be both fiercely competitive and profoundly kind is a rare combination, and it serves as a reminder that greatness is not only about achievements but about character.
Final thoughts: why Senna’s story matters to me
The connection I feel to Ayrton Senna is about more than admiration for his driving—it’s about recognizing in him the same relentless drive, the same hunger to push limits, and the same deeper search for meaning that defines the endurance athlete’s path.
His legacy teaches us that greatness isn’t just about victories—it’s about passion, perseverance, and the willingness to go beyond what others believe is possible. His approach to sport is a reminder that the true reward isn’t in the podium finish, but in the person we become along the way.
As I continue my triathlon journey, I’ll carry Senna’s lessons with me.