Education student Ryan Seaman balances his full-time studies with a full training schedule
Ryan Seaman never imagined he would become a triathlete, let alone one of the fastest in his age bracket in the world.
In 2024, the former boxer enrolled in the Education program at VIU and decided he was ready to try a new sport. He loved the fitness and conditioning that came with preparing for fights, but wanted to focus on his education and avoid the potential risk of brain injuries.
Running was already part of his boxing training, so he started entering races before an injury sidelined him for about a month. He switched to swimming and cycling to stay active while recovering, then realized he could combine all three sports and try triathlon.
By the end of that summer, Ryan had competed in three triathlons, including a half-Ironman in Victoria. He discovered the variety was one of his favourite parts of the sport.
“Every day looks different and I get to train in three different sports,” he says.
Now in his third year at VIU, the Nanaimo-born athlete says balancing a full course load with up to 22 hours of training per week takes careful planning.
“Managing my time has become extremely important and I have become very good at it,” he says.
His hard work paid off this year, when he finished fourth overall, won his age group and was the first Canadian to cross the finish line at the Ironman 70.3 Victoria.
“I had only dreamed of ever becoming that fast, and to compete at the top, but now that was a reality,” says the 23-year-old.
After competing at the 2025 world championships in Marbella, Spain, Ryan knows what it takes to race against the world’s best. He’ll draw on that experience as he prepares for the 2027 world championships in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with a goal of finishing in the top 10 in his age group.
Back at VIU, Ryan remains focused on his career goals too. He wants to teach in Grades 5 to 7 and “be impactful in the lives of many future adults. I think it's important for kids to have strong role models and I want to be that within the school.”
He says VIU was the perfect choice to pursue his post-secondary education, as he "had heard great things" about the Education program.
It didn’t hurt that the campus is right beside the track and pool.
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