“Fitness isn’t health,” says Timothy O’Donnell. “Especially in Boulder, where there are a lot of guys like me who are really fit in their 40s and don't fit the bill for a heart attack victim, but we're not impervious just because we ride our bikes, run, and climb.”
Lean and strong, O’Donnell has a perpetual smile and eyes that sparkle with joy. With over 50 podium finishes and 22 major victories worldwide, he cemented his legacy as one of the world's top long-course triathletes in his thirties.
In 2021, at forty years old, after months of sensing something was wrong despite multiple clear test results, Timothy O’Donnell suffered a “Widowmaker” heart attack mid-triathlon—a cardiac event with a <12% survival rate. Remarkably, he not only survived but finished the race in 11th place. The experience became a profound turning point. After decades of relentless training, O’Donnell shifted his focus to what matters most: his family, his community, and helping others build lasting resilience beyond sport.
Now retired from professional racing, O’Donnell remains deeply engaged in the endurance world. Together with his wife, Mirinda “Rinny” Carfrae—a three-time Ironman World Champion who held the Kona run course record for over a decade—he co-founded Salty Bears Racing, an online coaching community that brings elite coaching to athletes seeking their personal best.
“We’re high-performance in the sense that we get our athletes to the world championships, but the Salty Bear community is grounded, joyful, and connected––we’re all people who love life and want to train seriously without taking ourselves too seriously,” says O’Donnell.
Salty Bears Racing offers structured training built on O’Donnell and Rinny’s decades of experience, but what sets it apart is the culture and community it nurtures. Their recent team camp in Boulder centered around the 70.3 race. “Instead of everyone racing solo, we put together relay teams so they could connect and cheer each other on. We had a barbecue at the race, kicked off camp with dinner at our house, did track drills, three days of training, strength sessions with Erin Carson at Black Lab Sports, and a bike mechanics seminar at Mike’s Bikes. It was all about building community while training hard,” says O’Donnell.
Despite being an online-based team, Salty Bears feels more like a family than a typical tri club. “You don’t see many teams this close when they’re not local,” O’Donnell says. “It’s amazing to watch friendships form organically across the country. We saw photos on the Salty Bear’s Facebook page, of athletes training together, vacationing together––it’s cool to see what this community is creating.”
The name itself carries their playful-yet-seasoned spirit: “Salty” is Navy slang for experienced, a nod to O’Donnell’s background as a Navy officer, while “Bears” references the koala for Rinny’s Australian roots. Their logo: a koala perched on an anchor.
But O’Donnell’s vision extends beyond racing. After years in what he calls the “triathlon bubble,” he’s now intentional about building broader connections. As a member of Highland City Club, he seeks out people who excel in diverse fields. “I love interacting with anyone who’s really good at what they do,” he says. “Because I know what it takes to be great.”
This passion and curiosity for excellence fuels his next chapter: public speaking. O’Donnell shares his journey of resilience, heart health, and redefining success with community groups and corporate teams, weaving lessons from elite sport into everyday leadership and wellbeing.
At a recent Highland City Club talk, O’Donnell shared how one audience member was so moved she refused to hand back her feedback form, telling him, “No, I wrote down notes for myself. I need to keep this.”
“Our main goal with Salty Bears is to take the perspective and balance that we had in our professional careers and share that with more communities. People talk about financial freedom, but for me, it’s really about freedom of movement—being able to do what you love—that’s what people are responding to.”
As he looks ahead, O’Donnell hopes to keep expanding Salty Bears Racing and his speaking work, inspiring more people to redefine what strength and success really mean.
“Whether it’s racing, business, or life, it’s not just about the finish line,” he says. “It’s about finding joy, staying curious, and showing up fully for what matters most.”
For Boulder and beyond, his story is a reminder: True endurance isn’t measured in miles, but in how deeply we live.
Interested in bringing Timothy’s champion mindset to your team or event?
He is currently booking speaking engagements in Boulder and beyond. Connect via SaltyBearsRacing.com or find him at Highland City Club, where he’s likely learning from another expert over coffee.
“Fitness isn’t health,” says Timothy O’Donnell. “Especially in Boulder, where there are a lot of guys like me who are really fit in their 40s and don't fit the bill for a heart attack victim, but we're not impervious just because we ride our bikes, run, and climb.”