Xavier Grenier-Talavera: Triathlon, Passion and Perseverance

He travels the world to represent Canada in triathlon. Hailing from Vaudreuil-Dorion, Xavier Grenier-Talavera is chasing a spot among the world’s elite and aiming to compete at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. This is the portrait of a young athlete in his prime, with his best years still ahead of him.

The Long Road

When this interview was conducted, Xavier had just returned to his family home—briefly—to do laundry and repack before flying back to Spain with a one-way ticket. Every elite athlete will tell you: routine doesn’t exist in their world. At just 22, Xavier has been swimming, cycling, and running with the world’s best for years. Encouraged but never pressured by his sporty family, he began triathlon at age 8 with Tri-O-Lacs, and still returns to train there when possible.

“My parents supported everything I did,” he says. “That’s one reason why I kept loving sports more and more.”

After early stints in soccer and hockey, he was drawn into competition and the drive to improve—something that gradually turned into national-level ambition.

“It was always a dream to go to the Olympics,” he says. “But as a kid, I was just in it for the fun. As I invested more, I got better results, and that kept pushing me to the next level—to the podium.”

Now, Xavier is developing alongside Canada’s national triathlon team, which includes a dozen promising athletes.

A Developing Team

Triathlon is a sport that rewards long-term development—at the Rio Olympics, the average competitor was 29. Xavier is steadily progressing through the ranks, moving from continental cups to world cups and now into World Triathlon Series (WTS) events. He’s already cracking the global top 20, remarkable for his age:

“We’re all strong for our age,” Xavier explains of his teammates, “but not yet developed enough to consistently compete against the world’s best.”

Following Rio 2016, Triathlon Canada faced budget cuts and raised the standards for entry into WTS races, making it harder for younger athletes to gain experience at the highest level. Xavier sees this not as a roadblock, but as motivation:

“You rarely have a perfect triathlon,” he admits. “Usually, it’s one small thing that throws off your race. You can’t win in the swim, but you can definitely lose. Cycling is increasingly technical, especially on urban courses. And the run is where it’s won. You need to be complete—no weaknesses.”

His Olympic-distance times hover around 1:50 to 1:55, with sprint-distance times near 48 minutes. Highlights so far include a 19th place at WTS Edmonton and 9th in the U23 World Championships in Cozumel.

A Profession with Little Pay

He raced 19 times last year. Between training, travel, and studying part-time for a business degree, life is a delicate balancing act. Elite triathletes outside the top 15 rarely earn a living from the sport:

“I’m basically in survival mode,” he admits. “It’s tough to make money in triathlon unless you’re top-tier.”

France and Germany offer club contracts to elite triathletes, but financial support from programs like Own the Podium or tax credits is limited. Still, Xavier keeps pushing forward. A two-week break at season’s end is his only full rest.

How does he stay mentally strong?

“Without joy, you can’t perform. You have to accept what’s given and do your best with it. Let go of what you can’t control.”

Xavier Grenier-Talavera is a source of pride for Vaudreuil-Dorion. With determination, composure, and purpose, he’s climbed steadily up the ranks. If the pieces fall into place, his Olympic dream is within reach.