Triathlete on sport in the climate crisis: “We are reaching the total limit”

taz: Ms. Mohan, you were invited to speak at the COP29 climate conference in 2024. There you said: If the climate crisis is not adequately addressed, triathlon may soon cease to exist. How come?

Pragnya Mohan: As an outdoor athlete, nature is my workplace. I swim in lakes and the sea, I ride my bike and run outside. If there are no clean waters left, air pollution is too high and temperatures are extreme, we will not see anyone doing triathlons in the near future.

The 32-year-old is the first triathlete from India to ever take part in the World Cup. The athlete from Ahmedabad is involved in the climate NGO EcoAthletes.

taz: Is the climate crisis the reason why you, the most successful Indian triathlete, live in England?

Mohan: In my country, I am one of the pioneers of the sport, and the number of coaches and infrastructure are quite limited. In Europe there is better coaching and more competitions. But climate change has definitely influenced me too.

Mohan: I come from Ahmedabad, a city with over a million inhabitants in western India. I can't swim in any water there. In addition, global warming has caused temperatures to rise even further. It is now very difficult to train outside for much of the year.

taz: Do you know other athletes from the Global South for whom the climate crisis was a reason for moving?

Mohan: The training conditions and infrastructure in the Global South are so bad that we don't even talk about the climate crisis. But we have often talked about air quality and temperatures. We say, for example: In Europe we can also train in the afternoon. In India we can't even imagine this. And every time I go back there, it's hard for me to even exercise outside for the first week because of the air quality.

taz: India is the most populous country in the world, yet the country is not well represented in many Olympic sports. Why is that?

Mohan: India still struggles to meet basic needs due to its huge population. When you're hungry, you don't think about exercise. I have been very lucky in my life because I come from a family that was able to support sports. The second problem is that the sports infrastructure is so poorly developed.

taz: Are athletes in Europe aware of how big the differences are to the Global South?

Mohan: When you have everything you need, you often don't notice such differences. But I don't blame them. Competitive sport is extremely demanding, so you often don't worry about other people's difficulties. Conversations between athletes from the Global North and the Global South are just beginning.

Mohan: Triathlon is a particularly white sport. We are now increasingly seeing people from different backgrounds taking part. When they join, they bring their own experiences with them.

taz: Sport almost only speaks publicly about the climate crisis when it comes to the usual debates about the lack of snow in winter sports. How do you perceive the interaction from the inside?

Mohan: Athletes are definitely interested in the topic. I've been interested in the topic for a long time, but at the same time I didn't want to use my public reach. I fly a lot and thought I would be accused of hypocrisy.

Mohan: The EcoAthletes organization. There they explained to me: Traveling is part of my job, but at the same time the climate is important to me. That's okay. I received knowledge and support there. Most outdoor athletes are interested in nature. But many are afraid to speak out because they don't have enough knowledge and lack the support from associations.

taz: A study estimated the ecological footprint of sport at around 300 million tons of CO2 annually in 2020. This was roughly equivalent to that of a country like Spain. A large part of the emissions can be traced back to a few leagues and major tournaments. How does sport need to change?

Mohan: For the associations, the well-being of athletes must come first. There must be clear rules about when a competition is canceled due to climatic conditions. Measures are also needed to adapt to the heat. In addition, competitions must be organized more sustainably, for example when fans travel by public transport. We need the best sustainability standards in stadium construction. The associations must take responsibility. And democratic representation by athletes must play a central role in this.

taz: So you're not being heard at the moment?

Mohan: You can't expect us to get involved as climate ambassadors and at the same time not even take part in conversations about our own well-being. Some institutions are trying to reduce their carbon footprint through new competition planning. But I'm not asked how much recovery time I need between competitions. I don't think that's fair.

taz: The sports industry follows a strong growth logic. More tournaments, more countries involved, more profits. Are external emissions caps needed?

Mohan: Some associations are more motivated than others. That's why legal regulations are needed that oblige them to comply with certain limit values. At the same time, something has to happen within the organizations.

taz: How do people in the management committees react to your commitment?

Mohan: At the World Triathlon level they are very aware of the climate crisis. There are regulations there that certain competitions are not allowed to take place if the temperature is above 32 degrees. However, these rules are not necessarily applied nationally. In India, where the temperature is already 30 degrees at 8 a.m., those responsible cannot be expected to follow international guidelines. People there aren’t particularly interested in my activism. You might think: She's talking to the West, but that doesn't affect us. At the international level it is received rather positively.

In 2024, they founded an NGO in India that distributes recycled bicycles to girls. Why can the bicycle be so important for equality?

Mohan: In rural India, the secondary school can be 5 to 10 kilometers away. Private transportation is very expensive for many families. They would be more likely to raise the money for a son, but a daughter would be married off. 60 percent of girls in rural areas do not complete their school education. Thanks to my experience in triathlon, I am a trained bicycle mechanic, which gave me an idea: Privileged children in India are constantly getting new bikes that they hardly use. If you donate them and we repair them, the bikes will get a second life.

taz: You were the first triathlete to ever represent India at a World Cup. Are the 2028 Olympics your goal?

Mohan: Definitely. But there are only 52 starting places in triathlon, which will be very difficult. I was unable to compete last year due to an injury. I plan to get back on board in February. At the same time, I would also like to support young athletes in following in my footsteps.

taz: And what does the future of triathlon look like in your eyes? It is now obvious that the 1.5 degree target can no longer be achieved and that the earth is heading towards a warming of around 2.8 degrees by the end of the century.

Mohan: We have to compete under unpredictable conditions. Adapting to extreme temperatures can be life-threatening. We are reaching our total limits, and climate change will significantly increase the risk. Will there be rule changes? How will we be protected? There is a lot of uncertainty in the community. I speak for many athletes when I say: We are afraid of what the future has in store for us.