The kind of coach Tomás is wasn’t made overnight — it’s the result of years of passion, challenge, and growth. Through empathy, strength, and perseverance, he has turned his journey into a true example of personal mastery, combining endurance, determination, and emotional intelligence into his coaching superpowers.

Tomás’ athletic journey began in 2008 as a swimmer. What started as a simple passion soon grew into something bigger. In 2017, he expanded into triathlon, cycling, and running — and from there, his journey only accelerated.

After the pandemic, Tomás took on one of the toughest cycling challenges in the world: in 2023, he conquered Alto de Letras in Colombia — an 80-kilometer climb with a staggering 3,700 meters of elevation gain, known as the longest continuous climb in the world. A feat of strength, endurance, and pure mental resilience.

That same year, Tomás’ dedication and perseverance were recognised nationally: he was selected to represent Colombia in the national team for his age group — a testament to years of consistent hard work and passion for his sport.

Along the way, Tomás has completed two marathons, one Half Ironman distance race, multiple Olympic triathlons, and two sprint triathlons — always pushing boundaries, always looking for the next challenge.
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Now, Tomás brings his immense experience and quiet strength to us — leading and inspiring us as we prepare for our Everesting Challenge. With his deep understanding of endurance, his love for the sport, and his steady, motivating presence, he will guide us to new heights.

Tomás knows from personal experience: "Great achievements aren't built on big promises — they’re built on small, courageous steps, taken day after day."

We are proud and excited to have Tomás by our side. With him, we’re not just climbing a mountain — we’re reaching for our own personal heights!

In 2021, Oleksandra had a bold goal—she wanted to be the youngest girl to complete a 24-hour pool swim. Under the guidance of her coach, she spent hours each day in the water, swimming six hours straight, eating donuts mid-swim to keep her energy up. Her training was more than just preparation; it was a journey of resilience and dedication. But then, the war in Ukraine changed everything. She had to leave her home, her training, and the goal she had been building towards. The race never happened.

That wasn’t the only time Oleksandra had fought through challenges in the water. She had transformed herself in open-water swimming, going from finishing almost last in her first 2 km race to standing on the podium for 10 km races just a year later. She competed in six 10 km Oceanman races, regularly placing at the top in her age group. At the World Championship Grand Final in Thailand (2023), she faced one of her toughest battles yet—severe food poisoning just one day before the most important competition of her life. Too weak to speak, she still pushed through, swimming 5 km (placing in the top 10) and anchoring her relay team to a gold medal.

Oleksandra’s story is one of grit, passion, and an unstoppable spirit. When she arrived in Vienna, she found a new home with GoZebra, an international club built on fairness, respect, positive psychology, and strength—values that aligned perfectly with her own. She joined as a coach and an athlete, bringing her experience, energy, and determination to the team. And in return, the club is doing its best to support her ambitions, working to plan open-water races and a 24-hour pool swim—unfinished business from her past. With the help of the whole team, recruiting volunteers, and hoping for the backing of Austrian authorities, GoZebra strives to elevate the face of sport and show how, even in the face of the grimmest adversity, something truly positive can emerge.
GoZebra is more than just a team; it’s a community that lifts each other up. Oleksandra is not only rebuilding her own dreams but inspiring others to chase theirs, proving that no matter how many obstacles stand in your way, with the right people around you, you can always keep moving forward.
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Welcome to your April 2025 GoZebra Newsletter!

Spring into Action!Longer days, brighter goals, and exciting updates--
new classes, summer camps, BILLA Challenge, and more!

Spring has arrived, and with longer days and renewed energy, we're entering one of the most exciting times of the year—race season! Whether you're gearing up for the Vienna City Marathon, the SwimRun this weekend, or simply enjoying the boost of outdoor training, there's something for everyone to look forward to.

At GoZebra, we’re proud to be an international, inclusive sports club with members from over 20 countries and aged from 4 to 70+. Whether you're just starting out or chasing a personal best, you belong here. We believe in creating a safe, supportive space where everyone can thrive, grow, and discover their stripes—uncovering their strengths and becoming their best selves.

Over the past months, we’ve been hard at work supporting our athletes’ personal goals while also helping to shape the future of Sport by developing a multisport strategy for the Triathlon Vienna Federation—from grassroots to Olympic level.

And there’s more:
 We're introducing new classes like Calisthenics.
 Our Summer Camps are filling fast!
 We’re growing our Talent Development Program, from kindergarten visits to elite support.
 We’re launching a Call for Inspiring Stories to celebrate the amazing journeys within our community.
 Our volunteer team is growing—want to be part of something meaningful?
 Plus: Don’t miss the Billa Coupon Challenge to support our kids’ classes with fun and creativity!

And as always, we’re welcoming new members. Try any class for free, meet your amazing coaching team, and become part of a vibrant, energetic, and purpose-driven community.

Let’s train, race, grow, and have fun—together. We can't wait to see you out there!

Your GoZebra Coaching Team
FREE TRIAL CLASS

COACH CORNER
Performance testing and tracking… In the world of endurance sports, there’s a saying: “A session not recorded is a session that didn’t happen.” But how much testing is too much, and what do you do if your watch tells you are too slow in a race, even if it feels hard - do you get discouraged, or use it as motivation? Let’s breakdown key testing methods—what they measure, how they’re done, and how to use them wisely.
Read more

SUMMER CAMP
Join us for an unforgettable experience where kids aged 6 to 16 can improve their swimming, running, teamwork, and mindset—all while having fun.
DATES:
30.6.-4.7.25 (2 spaces left)
14.7.-18.7.25 (FULL)
28.7.-1.8.25 (5 spaces left)
For more information click below.
Summercamps

NEW CLASS - CALISTHENICS!
Calisthenics is a great form of exercise, involving full body compound moves to strengthen your whole body in a functional way whilst ironing our imbalances and reducing risk for injuries. A great class to add to your fitness and triathlon training!  Read more what it is and why Calistenics should be part of your fitness and triathlon training and to book your free trial!
FREE TRIAL

GoZebra x BILLA
Support GoZebra Kids Classes with Billa Coupons! Billa is running an initiative to support local sports clubs—and we're collecting coupons again to benefit our kids' classes!
Here’s how you can help: Every time you shop at Billa, you’ll receive a coupon for every €10 spent. Simply collect the coupons and either:
> Hand them in to your coach
> Or scan them online for GoZebra (link below)


Let’s make it fun! 
We’re also launching a Collection Shoebox Challenge:
 Decorate a shoebox GoZebra style and place it in your local Billa store to collect even more coupons.
 Get the kids involved and creative!
 Don’t forget to send us a photo of your shoebox—there will be a prize for the best-designed collection box! Send us your photo at [email protected]!
Let’s collect, create, and support our kids classes together!
Add your coupons online here

JOIN THE GOZEBRA VOLUNTEER TEAM!
Be part of something special! We’re currently looking for passionate, motivated people to support our team and purpose. Here are some of the exciting volunteer opportunities available:
> Special needs support in coaching
> Marketing & Communications
> Social Media
> Sponsorship & Partnership Support
> Event Management & Support
> GP/Team Doctor (once a year, for licenses)
Get involved early, gain valuable experience, and be part of something exciting and meaningful—while making a real difference in people’s lives. Onboarding, mentoring, and training are all provided. Express your interest here: Volunteer Opportunities

We also offer INTERNSHIPS for summer (aged 15+). Get in touch here!

Your coaching team
We are further strengthening your coaching team to provide you with the best training out there. Please welcome Anja, Oleksandra and Manuel to the team!

Anja (kids run and swim coach & welfare officer)
Oleksandra (swim coach)
Manuel (swim coach)
Christoph (swim coach)
Tomas (bike coach)
Amelie (swim coach)
Anika (triathlon coach)
Brigitte (head coach, triathlon coach,  sport psychology & talent development)
See your coaching team here

Would you like to coach with us?
We are currently looking for a RUN COACH!
Apply here!

CALL FOR INSPIRING STORIES
Every sport thrives on stories—and we all have a story to tell. Stories that inspire, motivate, and bring people together. That’s why we’re launching a new series to share powerful, personal stories from within our community.
Whether it’s how sport has helped you, how you’ve overcome challenges, or a small moment that made a big difference—your story matters. If you have something to share, we’d love to hear from you!
Submit your story here

Talent Development
In our last newsletter, we shared highlights from our recent visit to a kindergarten, where we inspired the youngest generation to discover the joy of multisport – swimming, cycling, and running. At Triathlon Wien, we have developed a unique, internationally-aligned long-term athlete development programme. Our goal is to engage, nurture, support, and retain athletes at every stage of their sporting journey – helping them unlock their full potential, from their first swim stroke to the international stage.
Stay tuned! In our next newsletter, we’ll give you exclusive insights into our Talent Development Programme.

Achievement Wall
Every milestone counts, and we celebrate every achievement of our members, no matter how big or small! CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE!
Click here to see our Team Achievements

Feedback
We follow a growth mindset in all we do, including in our own coaching and services. Your feedback is valuable to us! Provide your feedback here!