SIKA HENRY
• TRIATHLETE & RUNNER •
LOCATION: Newport News, VA
TWITTER: @sika_henry
INSTAGRAM: @sikahenry
FAVORITE GU PRODUCT: Liquid Energy Gel
FAVORITE ENERGY GEL FLAVOR: Pineapple ROCTANE
FAVORITE NUTRITION HACK
Always better to carry too much than too little. No matter how many gels I think I need, I always carry two extra.
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU? WHAT'S YOUR WHY?
Diversity and representation! It inspired me to qualify for my pro card in triathlon. I had always wanted to see an African American woman in the elite field at a half ironman, and hoped that I could offer some inspiration to a new generation of athletes. I also learned the hard way, after a horrific cycling accident, that sports can be taken away in a split second so I've found motivation outside of competition by being involved in initiatives that help make triathlon more accessible.
I am an Ambassador for Race for Change, a diversity initiative launched by the IRONMAN Foundation to identify and remove participation barriers within the sport of triathlon that impact Black and other diverse athlete groups. Last year we gave away bikes, 1,500 free swim lessons, and raised $150K in grants. We also launched Race for Change Relays in 6 different markets to introduce more people of color to triathlon.