Craven Community College (Craven CC) Biology Instructor Jennifer Bogdanoff recently returned from Wollongong, Australia, where she proudly represented Team USA at the 2025 World Triathlon Championships. Competing among the best athletes from around the globe, Bogdanoff took part in both the Standard Aquabike and Sprint Triathlon events.
Bogdanoff placed 4th in her age group in the Standard Aquabike, which included a 1500-meter ocean swim and 40-kilometer bike ride. Despite battling rough surf and a severe chest cold, she crossed the finish line with a strong time of 1:43:24, just shy of the bronze medal. The next day, she competed in the Sprint Triathlon—featuring a 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike, and 5-kilometer run—finishing 20th in her age group with a time of 1:17:05.
“Even with the lung infection, I was right on my paces, so I’ll take it,” Bogdanoff said. “It was an electrifying experience to be with and race against the best athletes from around the world. I am so incredibly grateful that I was able to do it.”
Over 4,000 athletes from 73 countries gathered in Wollongong for the world championship event, which featured elite, para, and age-group competitors. For Bogdanoff, the experience was the culmination of a journey that began just two years ago when she entered her first sprint triathlon.
“I’ve always been an athlete, but triathlons have challenged me in ways I never expected,” she shared before the trip. “To go from my first race in 2023 to wearing the Team USA uniform on a world stage still feels surreal.”
Balancing her training with teaching biology at Craven CC, Bogdanoff has become a source of inspiration for both her students and colleagues. Her determination, discipline, and passion for learning mirror the same qualities she encourages in her classroom.
To learn more about the World Triathlon Championships, visit wollongongtriathlon.com.
