Post-Race Reactions - Miguel Hidalgo

Have you ever had one of those days when your race strategy felt perfectly aligned with your mind and body? Miguel Hidalgo just lived it. He called this one the greatest experience of his career—the kind of moment where everything clicks, and you realize that your potential might be bigger than you ever imagined. It reminded me of how we underestimate exponential growth in finance or get surprised by how our aging bodies adapt when we invest in consistent training. Sometimes all it takes is the right strategic positioning and a resolve to collaborate with people who lift you up.

Making the Perfect Start

Miguel’s day began with a calculated decision — he observed the women’s competition from the sidelines. That’s how he learned that starting from the far right side would give him a better angle to catch a strong swimmer’s draft. This is a classic example of leveraging small details for big gains, much like investing in the right index fund early on or developing healthy habits before everyone else. When you let yourself tune in to the environment, these little “investments” can deliver exponential results in performance.

Tough Bike Leg, Strong Collaboration

Much like building a startup, you can’t go it alone: you need team synergy. During the bike segment, Miguel and his fellow competitors — Leo, Seth Ryder, and the relentless Cano Miller — demonstrated the power of shared drive. They hammered through the course and broke away from the main pack by committing to a high-effort pace.

I’ve seen people in triathlon circles hold back because of fear — fear that the group won’t cooperate or that the risk is too high. Yet Miguel’s breakaway reminded me of how Lionel Sanders, “Mr. No Limits,” always says he’s willing to push beyond what others deem possible. On a narrow, technical course, that tight-knit group felt more like a startup team on a mission: everyone had a role, and they stuck with it, trusting that the collective push would outweigh the pain.

Run to Glory

Entering the run, Miguel used an aggressive uphill surge to establish a gap — a classic move I like to compare to doubling down on your best stock when the market dips. With an adversary like Matt Hower lurking, he knew this was the moment to commit or regret it later. Listening to his coach's advice and staying calm, he maintained that lead and conquered the mental battle of a final-lap showdown.

A Historic Milestone for Brazil

As if his own achievement wasn’t enough, this victory wasn’t just Miguel’s personal triumph — it was also a landmark moment for Brazilian triathlon: the country’s first World Triathlon Series (WTS) victory. It’s a reminder that national achievement often sparks bigger dreams back home, encouraging the next wave of athletes to aim for greater heights.

Every champion’s journey is a blend of preparation, smart tactics, unwavering drive, and a bit of good luck. In this race, Miguel Hidalgo seized the moment and constructed the perfect synergy between mind, body, and team spirit — proving once again that exponential growth isn’t exclusive to finance, and that age or background matters far less than...