The CEO of USA Triathlon shares how she balances her role as a director — the first woman to ever hold the position — with her passion for sports, and discusses the support of young athletes in Kazakhstan.
Victoria Brumfield, CEO of USA Triathlon
Hugh Hallman, Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan to the USA
About myself
Victoria. I lead USA Triathlon, the national governing body for the sport in the United States. My mission is to grow the sport, bring people together, and promote the values of triathlon both at home and abroad.
We recently hosted our national championship, and over four days, I personally competed in seven races. I'm not only a CEO — I’m also an athlete.
I am the first woman to hold the CEO position in the history of our organization, founded in 1982. It’s not just a title — it’s a responsibility, especially when you’re opening the door for other women in sports.
Career in sports
My journey in the industry began in 1999, when I worked at a sports marketing agency in New York. We organized world championships and national events in wrestling, fencing, archery, and triathlon. That was when I first came into contact with this sport.
I remember watching the Ironman Triathlon on TV as a child. I thought, I’d love to be that strong and go that far, but I never imagined I’d actually stand at the starting line one day.
That’s the magic of triathlon. It’s a sport you can join at any age. You don’t have to be a pro since age five. It’s about being active, learning, moving, and enjoying life. I know people who started training at 40, 50, even 90 years old. I recently took part in a race with a man over 90 — it was incredibly inspiring.
My work isn’t just about sitting in an office and crunching numbers. I lead the largest national triathlon federation in the world. We have 300,000 members and over 1,500 events across the U.S. — everything from kids' races to world championships.
What I love most about my job are two things. First: watching kids take part in their very first race. Their smiles, their excitement, those first steps on the course, how they cheer each other on. Second: accompanying our Olympic and Paralympic athletes. The strength of spirit is incredible — some have visual impairments, some run without limbs, some use wheelchairs. But they fight, they win, they inspire the world.
Impressions of Kazakhstan
This is my first time in Kazakhstan, and I’m absolutely thrilled. I’ve just arrived, but I already feel the warmth of this country. People here are incredibly kind, open, and attentive. Astana is beautiful, clean, and modern.
Before coming, I knew about Kazakhstan thanks to my love for cycling. I had heard of the Astana Cycling Team. But I had no idea triathlon was so developed here. I’ve now learned that Kazakhstan even has a triathlon school. That’s amazing.
Work in Kazakhstan
We came here with my team from the USA Triathlon Youth Program to attend the Asia Triathlon Cup Burabay, observe the kids’ races, and share our experience. We’re here not only to present our methods — we want to learn, too.
Hugh. This visit to Kazakhstan is more than a courtesy call. We came with a clear mission: to see how triathlon is growing among youth here and to offer our support. We’re working with the Kazakhstan Triathlon Federation and the “Great Steppe” scout movement. Our goal is to inspire kids to lead active lives and to show that sports can open doors to their future.
I’m especially proud that we brought with us a new initiative: scholarships for young triathletes aged 16 to 18 who participated in the Asia Triathlon Cup Burabay. We awarded three scholarships each to girls and boys: $5000 for first place, $2500 for second, and $1500 for third. The funds can be used for education, housing, travel — anything that helps young athletes grow. And this is just the beginning. I truly believe initiatives like this can change lives.
Victoria. I believe sport should be accessible. You don’t have to come in first to be a winner. You just have to overcome your own limits. And if we can inspire even one child in Kazakhstan to start — to learn to swim, to ride a bike, to run with a smile — then we’ve done something truly meaningful.
Triathlon changes lives. It changed mine. And now I want to share that with others.