Ivan Razeira: CBTri, World Triathlon Cup, and His Triathlon Journey
The CBTri General Director shares his inspiring journey, from his first bike rides to the challenges of sports management and behind the scenes of the World Triathlon Cup.
In this special episode of the Stemma Podcast, Ivan Razeira, General Director of the Brazilian Triathlon Confederation (CBTri), delves into his history in the sport. He reveals the intricacies of the World Triathlon Cup, including its logistics and crucial rules for athletes. This is an in-depth conversation about high performance, management, and the evolution of triathlon in Brazil.
In a vibrant setting in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, during the World Triathlon Cup, hosts Fábio Bessa and Thika Wamura welcomed Ivan Razeira, the General Director of the Brazilian Triathlon Confederation (CBTri). The conversation revealed not only the behind-the-scenes of an international caliber event but also Ivan's inspiring journey, which is intertwined with the very history of Brazilian triathlon.
World Triathlon Cup: The Event and Its Behind-the-Scenes
The World Triathlon Cup is a crucial event in the global calendar, managed by World Triathlon, the governing body for the sport, focusing on standard and sprint distances. For athletes, the competition is vital for earning points toward the Olympic ranking, aiming for the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
Organizing an event of this magnitude requires enormous logistics, starting long before the race begins. Ivan highlighted the need for an official hotel, a reception team for athletes and coaches, and the provision of a 50-meter training pool, like the one used in partnership with Exefex in Urca. Course reconnaissance – for cycling and swimming – is mandatory and takes place very early, at 6 AM in Copacabana, with a Municipal Guard escort. Another fundamental point is the pre-race briefing, whose attendance is compulsory for athletes, under penalty of a 10-second penalty in transition (T1).
Specific rules from World Triathlon were also discussed, such as the mandatory use of helmets even on training days before the competition, emphasizing that “the race starts before the gun goes off.”
Ivan Razeira: From Promising Athlete to Sports Management
Ivan's triathlon journey began in 1993, at age 13, in Florianópolis. His initial interest in mountain biking led him to a Caloi 10 and, by chance, to a terrestrial duathlon. Initially, running was a challenge, but the sport won him over. He began to stand out in his age group, becoming Brazilian Junior Champion in 1997 and achieving Pan-American podium finishes in the junior category.
Competing until 2006, Ivan participated in World Cup stages in Europe, but faced sponsorship challenges, funding his travels with his own resources – such as a charity paella and support from the Instituto Guga Kuerten. Throughout his career, he competed with big names like Juraci, Fábio Carvalho, and Santiago Assenso, and looked up to athletes like Alexandre Manzan, whom he describes as the most complete and an “outlier” in Brazilian triathlon.
Parallel to his athletic career, Ivan studied Physical Education at UDESC, where he served as a “guinea pig” in physiology and biomechanics labs, deepening his knowledge of the body and high-performance training. Education was always a priority, and he managed to balance his studies with his training and competition routine.
The Transition to CBTri and the Development of Paratriathlon
Ivan's journey at CBTri began in 2017, voluntarily, dedicating himself to paratriathlon. He coached Jorge Fonseca, an arm-amputee athlete who showed extraordinary athletic potential. Ivan explained the complexity of paratriathlon, which is divided into six functional classes according to the level of impairment, detailing examples such as classes PTS2, PTS4 (Jorge's class), and PTS5 (Ruiter's class).
This division, he emphasizes, is to ensure equality in competition, although in events like the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, some classes were excluded due to economic reasons, with the expectation that Los Angeles 2028 will be the first edition to include all classes. Transporting equipment and logistics for athletes with disabilities are a separate challenge, and Ivan became involved to provide technical support.
His dedication led him to be a coach in Tokyo 2020 and Head of Delegation in Paris 2024. Later, he was invited to be Technical Coordinator and, finally, General Director of CBTri. Ivan highlighted the complexity of managing a confederation, which operates like a “publicly traded company,” with rigorous governance and responsibility in managing public funds. He worked alongside professionals like Elina, the technical director, and Bruna Mahn, whose passion and initiative are essential for the confederation.
Career Leap and Personal Turning Point
The transition from the technical area to management was a challenge, partly overcome by the CAGE (Advanced Sports Management Course) from the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB). The course, focused on case studies and strategic planning, was a watershed moment for Ivan, enabling him to apply knowledge of financial management, human resources, and strategic planning to CBTri's real problems, in addition to creating a valuable network of contacts among peers from other confederations.
A personal turning point, the “Z2 Moment,” occurred after the pandemic when Ivan decided to close his running consultancy and dive into digital entrepreneurship with an info-product on the ketogenic diet. This experience taught him about productivity and efficiency, changing his perspective on work and life. This new mindset, focused on tools and optimization, he now applies to CBTri's management, remaining “always on” without burnout.
At the end of the conversation, Ivan Razeira expressed gratitude for the opportunity to promote the confederation's work, inviting everyone to learn more about high-performance and amateur triathlon through the Triathlon Brasil channel. His trajectory is a testament to his passion for the sport and his capacity for adaptation and leadership, inspiring both athletes and managers.