Lindzi Nader
1. Lindzi, you’re an architect turned elite triathlete. In what way has designing buildings trained you to win races?
Architecture taught me that I build every successful project long before construction begins.
Triathlon is very similar. Race day is simply the execution of months of planning, preparation, and problem-solving. Every training session, recovery day, nutrition choice, and strategic decision contributes to the final outcome.
Success rarely comes from one big moment; it comes from hundreds of small decisions made consistently over time.
2. January 2026: First Arab female to finish the SAMLA 100KM. What does your brain say at kilometer 80 when your body is screaming stop?
At kilometer 80, the real challenge was no longer physical, it was mental.
I was going through one of the toughest periods of my life at the time, and during those final kilometers, everything was running through my mind. The race became much bigger than the distance itself.
There were moments when I cried. Moments when I had to stop. Moments when I walked because I simply couldn’t keep running. But giving up was never an option.
The greatest battle wasn’t against the course or the distance; it was against my own thoughts, emotions, and everything I was carrying internally. Every step forward was a decision to keep going despite the pain and exhaustion. Crossing that finish line wasn’t just about completing 100 kilometers; it was proof that even in our hardest moments, we are capable of much more than we think.
3. Lindzi, three-time IRONMAN 70.3 Middle East Champion, yet still a full-time coach. Who learns more, you from your athletes, or them from you?
I believe it is a mutual exchange. While I share my experience and knowledge, my athletes constantly teach me lessons about perseverance, courage, and growth. Coaching has made me a better athlete because it keeps me humble and connected to the deeper purpose behind performance. Every athlete’s journey offers an opportunity to learn.
4. You’ve raced under the Lebanese flag since 2014. What’s one misconception people have about Arab female endurance athletes that you love proving wrong?
One misconception suggests that where Arab women come from defines their potential.
As a Lebanese athlete, I have always wanted to prove the opposite. Lebanon made me who I am today. The challenges, uncertainty, and resilience that come with living in Lebanon have shaped my character, strengthened my mindset, and taught me how to keep moving forward no matter the circumstances.
At the same time, my message goes beyond Lebanon. Every time I race wearing the Lebanese flag, I feel that I am also representing the wider Arab world. I want the world to see that Arab women are capable of competing, leading, and excelling on the highest international stages.
My journey is proof that our circumstances do not define our potential. What defines us is our determination, our work ethic, and our belief in what is possible. If I can inspire even one young woman across Lebanon or the Arab world to dream bigger and believe in her abilities, then that impact will mean more to me than any podium finish.
Lebanon made me who I am, and through sport, I hope to show the world what Arab women are capable of achieving when they dare to believe in themselves.
5. Lindzi, if you could replace the swim, bike, or run leg with any non-sport activity from your architecture life, which would it be, and why?
I would replace the run with a site visit. In architecture, no matter how meticulously I plan, unexpected challenges always emerge. Racing is very similar. Both require observation, adaptability, and the ability to stay calm under pressure while finding solutions in real time.
6. T100 World Tour, Marbella Worlds, SAMLA, Egypt, KSA, UAE… Which podium felt least like “sports” and most like a statement?
To be honest, I don’t define my races by the podium itself. Every race has its own story, its own challenges, and its own lessons. What stays with me is not necessarily the result, but the performance, the journey, and what I had to overcome to get there.
SAMLA was certainly one of those moments. Becoming the first Arab female to complete the 100KM distance was bigger than sport. It was a statement about resilience, representation, and pushing beyond perceived limits.
At the same time, competing at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship was equally meaningful in a different way. Standing among the best athletes in the world and representing Lebanon on that stage was a reminder that athletes from our region belong at the highest level of competition.
Both experiences carried a message far beyond results. One was about breaking barriers, while the other was about proving that dreams that once seemed impossible can become reality through dedication, consistency, and belief.
For me, the true value of any race is not where I finish, but who I become through the process and the message I leave behind
7. How many times did you want to quit before achieving your biggest successes?
Most people ask about the victories, but very few ask about the failures, setbacks, doubts, and difficult days behind them.
The truth is that success is rarely built on the great days; it is built on the hard ones.
Every athlete experiences moments of disappointment, exhaustion, uncertainty, and failure. What matters is not avoiding those moments, but learning how to move through them. The achievements people see are only the visible outcome of countless unseen hours of work, sacrifice, resilience, and perseverance.
For me, true success is not measured by medals or titles. It is measured by the ability to keep showing up, keep learning, and keep moving forward, especially when things do not go as planned. The difficult days will always outnumber the great ones, but that is where character is built and where the real story of success begins.
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https://www.instagram.com/lindzinader
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