John P. Cahill achieved a lifelong dream by winning the Open 65-69 age group at the World Triathlon Championships in Wollongong, Australia, on October 17. 

The chancellor of the Archdiocese of New York, 66, completed the Olympic distance race, with a 0.9-mile swim, 25-mile bike, and 6.2-mile run, in 2:24:52. He completed the 0.9-mile swim in 23:42, averaging 1:32 per 100 yards. On the bike, he covered 25 miles in 1:08:21, maintaining an average speed of over 22 mph. He finished strong with a 6.2-mile run in 46:21, averaging 7:26 per mile.

For Cahill, the victory represents the culmination of 40 years of dedication to the sport. “It proves that if you keep at something long enough, you’re gonna get actually good at it,” he said at a surprise reception held by the archdiocese in his honor. “It might take a while.”

“I actually think it has a lot to do with my faith,” he said, explaining why he still competes. “God gives us these gifts. He gives us our spirituality, He gives us our intellect, He gives us our physical ability. And it’s kind of our responsibility to at least try every day to work to make them better so we can serve Him and we can serve people.”

Cahill finished fifth at the USA Triathlon National Championships in 2024, followed by a bronze medal at the same event this past summer.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who welcomed Cahill home at the reception and congratulated him: “Now the whole world knows what we know: You are a real champ.”