At just 19 years old, Josh Pedlow is already making waves in the triathlon and off-road racing scene. With over a decade of experience in the sport, Josh is forging his own unique pathway through travel and competition.
In the first half of 2025 alone, Josh has already delivered a string of standout performances. He placed 16th overall and 1st in his age group at Xterra Dunsborough, claimed 3rd in age group at the WA State Championships, and set personal bests of 2:05:30 in the standard distance and 59:30 in the sprint. He clocked a 16:50 Parkrun time and took home the win at the inaugural World’s Tallest Bridge Triathlon in China.
Humble Beginnings
A second-generation triathlete and proud member of Exceed Triathlon Club, Josh began his tri journey in the TRYstars program at age nine. He used a combination of freestyle, backstroke & breaststroke to get through the swim in his first race, and rode a BMX bike for the cycle until he was 11. “I never saw triathlon as a challenge. It was just fun,” said Josh.
As he grew up, his passion for BMX racing led him to pursue off-road cycling and cross triathlon as a natural progression of his skills. “I really enjoy mountain biking and trail running. You’re always focused, always in the moment,” Josh explained.
Josh’s journey has been shaped by the people around him. Growing up in the Exceed Triathlon Club community, he’s picked up advice, stories, and even second-hand gear from athletes of all ages. Inspired and supported by his father Ross, who has long been a club president, athlete, race director and coach, triathlon became a central part of Josh’s life. The rhythm of training continues to build his fitness, strengthen his mindset and keep him motivated.
Travelling Tales
After success in the local circuit, Josh has been exploring international racing opportunities in Italy and China so far this season. Living abroad has opened up his worldview and been a transformative experience.
“I’ve always lived in WA, and so getting to see and understand things from different perspectives is really important. It’s a skill I’ve really improved on as I have travelled,” he said.
Over the past few months, Josh has been training full-time in Suzhou, China with Trisutto coaches, while continuing to work closely with his father during visits to Australia. Training full-time alongside stronger, faster athletes has challenged Josh to lift his game and refine his skills, while also focusing on rest, recovery, and enjoying a well-earned break from work and study.
Josh claimed victory at the inaugural World’s Tallest Bridge Triathlon on 21 September 2025, a race unlike any other. Held on the newly opened Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge towering 625m above the Beipan River in Guizhou Province, China, the event was a spectacle from start to finish. “It was honestly crazy,” said Josh. “You start with flares going off over the lake, then climb 800m over 26km – it was steep!”
The race wasn’t just physically demanding; it was visually stunning. “The greenery in China is so vivid, I think better than Europe. Riding up, you look to the right and see valleys and rivers. I had a motorbike with a camera on me as I was leading – it was surreal, but I wanted to tell them to turn the camera around to look at the view,” said Josh.
Josh noted how different the atmosphere was compared to races back home. “In Australia, people often leave before the awards ceremony. In China, the community stayed, celebrated, and socialised. It made the whole experience unforgettable.”
Later that same month, he took on the XTERRA World Championship in Trentino, Italy, placing 23rd in the 18-19 age group. Held by Lake Molveno and the Brenta Dolomites, this course is renowned for its alpine water, steep climbs and downhills, technical terrain, and significant elevation gain on the run.
Josh’s race experience didn’t quite go to plan, and he risked the rims of his bike to get through the ride. “When I was riding up that hill, I think like 20 people passed me, but I was able to make it back on the run” he said. “So many people were walking their bikes through mud, it was so steep I was down to maybe 4km/hr up the hill. There is nothing like that in WA. I had a flat tyre with 2km to go, but it was all downhill, so I just kept going.”
Despite a tricky race, Josh says he is keen to take on the challenge again next year.
At both international events, one thing really stood out to Josh: the sport’s core culture of community. “It wasn’t just about the racing – it was the whole environment. I met people from all over the world, chatted for hours before the race. Everyone was genuinely interested in each other’s journey. That kind of connection is incredible,” he said.
On the Horizon
Despite his global adventures, Josh remains deeply connected to his WA roots. “I’ve trained in so many places, and WA is the best. The roads, the pool, the beaches. WA is perfect for triathlon,” he said.
“I’ve been racing most of my life, and I’ve grown up alongside so many juniors. At the last State Champs, during the swim, I was in a row with six people I knew—it really showed how strong the junior community is in WA. It’s definitely one of the best in Australia”.
Looking ahead, Josh is aiming for a win this season at the EXSS Cross Triathlon State Championships. He’ll be returning to university to continue his Computer Science studies, but training remains a constant in his life and routine. “I’m not super focused on racing for the rest of the year, but I’ll keep training because I love it.”
He also has his sights set on future elite-level XTERRA events. “Definitely going back,” he said.
Tips for Beginner Triathletes
Josh believes that triathlon really is for everyone of all ages, and that the best thing you can do for yourself is have the courage to start and the discipline to keep showing up – even when you don’t feel like it.
“Consistency is definitely the best thing for training. Even if you show up and don’t do as well as you thought that session, showing up is almost 80% of the work,” he said. “You just have to show up”.