Sports
Ironmom and Irondaughter: Rosecler and Marcela in Triathlon
Two generations share a passion for endurance races, race-day mishaps, and balancing motherhood with sport.
Rosecler Costa and Marcela Amorim share how triathlon united mother and daughter on and off the course. Discover the key takeaways from their podcast episode, from Marcela's 140.6 debut to the nuances of coaching women in endurance sports.
On this episode of Se Liga Nelas, the podcast welcomed Rosecler Costa—the veteran "Ironmom"—and her daughter, Marcela Amorim, for an inspiring conversation about family life, rigorous training routines, and living triathlon across two generations. Below is a recap of the main topics discussed during the show.
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Rosecler at home and Marcela's first steps in sports
Away from the race course, family life is defined by deep affection and partnership. Marcela remembers that during her childhood, her mother trained in the early hours before dawn to always be present during the day. Rosecler recalls her daughter's birth and early years in competitive swimming, emphasizing how careful she was not to pressure her into a professional athletic career when Marcela decided to step away from swimming at age 15.
Marcelinha's Ironman debut and her journey to the starting line
Inspired by her mother, Marcela set a goal from a very young age to complete a full Ironman. She respected the natural progression of the sport, moving through Sprint, Olympic, and the Ironman 70.3 São Paulo before taking on and finishing Ironman Brazil in Florianópolis at age 19, embracing the race with genuine joy from start to finish.
Motherhood, overcoming guilt, and the importance of self-care
Rosecler discusses the unique challenges and societal judgments faced by women who maintain demanding training routines while raising children. She highlights the necessity of prioritizing self-care and building a dependable support network, explaining that a mother must feel fulfilled within herself to give her best to her family.
The beginnings of Rosecler's career in triathlon and cycling
Having started swimming at age seven to manage asthma, Rosecler transitioned into biathlon and triathlon in Santos during the 1990s. She particularly excelled in cycling, competing for the Santos municipal team and winning a medal at the Jogos Abertos do Interior before establishing her long-standing legacy in endurance racing.
The Kona World Championship experience and the jellyfish scare
Mother and daughter look back on their family trip to the 2018 Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. Alongside the excitement of soaking in the island atmosphere, Rosecler recalls the shock of getting stung in the face by a Portuguese man o' war during an open-water swim session just a week before race day.
Race-day setbacks: hypothermia and ambulances in Mar del Plata and Floripa
Their shared athletic history also includes navigating extreme adversity. They recall harrowing situations involving severe cold, hypothermia, and dehydration that required emergency medical treatment and ambulance transport at Ironman Mar del Plata in 2017 and a torrential edition of Ironman Brazil in 2024.
Racing together, on-course synergy, and future plans
The deep bond between the two shines at the finish lines of recent races, where they compete side by side free of any rivalry. Looking toward the next chapter, Marcela plans to focus on her university studies while balancing her routine with Half Ironman distance events.
The mission to empower and coach women in sports
As a coach, Rosecler highlights the deep fulfillment that comes from welcoming and guiding other women in triathlon. Her central mission is to pass along the insights gained from three decades in the sport—helping female athletes shorten their learning curves, resolve technical questions, and gain confidence in endurance racing.
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