Founded right before the triathlon boom in 2004, the Brooklyn Tri Club has become one of the largest clubs in the city, and the only club serving the needs of the Brooklyn community.
BTC’s mission is to foster the sport of triathlon in Brooklyn and the greater New York area by providing opportunities to learn and participate in the sport and by promoting healthy and sustainable living that can be realized through involvement in the sport and through training.
We welcome members of all backgrounds—from beginners to elites, sprint to Ironman—who are interested in swimming, biking, and running. We support our members with group workouts, social events and educational clinics and workshops.
Learn more about our coaches and meet the board below.
Want to learn more? Read our FAQs or contact us if you have additional questions!
Ben Kessel is our Monday Strength coach in addition to being a long-time BTC athlete and former board member and BTC president! On Monday nights, he’ll be encouraging us to do “just 5 more” reps, and loves seeing us get stronger through the summer and each season. Ben is the owner of BTC Sponsor, Priority Fitness, a fitness studio that has a focus on strength and conditioning for endurance athletes. He is also the head coach of the Priority Fitness Endurance Squad.
Peter Helling is our Tuesday Bike coach. Peter is a USAT Level III coach, USAT coach educator, and member of the USAT paratriathlon development committee. In addition, he is a USA Cycling Level II coach, USA Cycling Certified Skills Instructor, and US Masters swimming coach.
Peter is the owner/head coach of Startline Coaching with over 15 years experience coaching athletes to Sprint, Olympic, Half and Full Ironman distance triathlons. His mission is to maximize each athlete’s potential. Peter believes that a well-trained athlete is both knowledgeable and strong, and knows how to optimize their race result. Knowledgeable athletes make better decisions on race day, and have a deep understanding of their physiology & capabilities. Peter is available for individual coaching services. Learn more about Coach Peter here.
Photo credit: Jennifer Cox @motofilms
Roman Fedosieiev is the former head coach of the Wagner women’s triathlon team and a USA Triathlon Level I Certified Coach, USA Swimming Coach member. He also holds an MBA in Management and MS in Marketing. Roman grew up playing soccer all the way to collegiate level in Ukraine. His Dad introduced him to the triathlon in 2013 and he was hooked on ever since. In 2021, Ironman positioned him in the top 1% of all athletes in his age group, earning him 2022 Ironman Gold All world athlete status.
John Hirsch is our Wednesday Run coach, helping us to run faster and build endurance at every skill level. John enjoys motivating his athletes to reach their goals and share their joy for endurance sport. John has competed as a pro since 2003 after qualifying and racing at Kona in 2002. He’s racked up multiple top-10 finishes, has raced in the pro divisions at the 2009 Ironman 70.3 and 2018 ITU Long Distance World Championships, and is the 2015, 2016, 2017 Spartan Ultra Beast Masters World Champion. He is the head coach of the non-profit charity team Team Continuum, and organizes the Strong Like Bull Training Camps, attended by our members each spring in Andalusia, Spain. He is also available for individual coaching.
John Stewart is our Thursday Brick coach, helping us craft bike-to-run transitions that lead to better racing results. He also leads club open water training swims at Brighton Beach. He is co-founder of BTC Sponsor, Big City Triathlon, Brooklyn’s first USAT Youth & Junior Club. He enjoys preparing triathletes for all race formats, focusing on steady, long-term progress that lasts season after season.
John is a USA Triathlon Level II Short & Long Course & Level I Youth & Junior Coach, USA Swimming Coach, US Masters Swimming Level III Coach, and holds a BS in Electrical Engineering. John is the former head coach of the Wagner College Women’s Triathlon Team. His USA Swimming club, the Brooklyn Stingrays, trains competitive swimmers ages 6-18yrs. John was hooked on triathlon, and distance events in general, during his first season in 1993. He has competed in triathlons from Sprints to Ironmans, and has enjoyed events such as the Texas Time Trials, 24hr MTB relays, the NYC Marathon, and swimming the English Channel. John resides in Windsor Terrace and is a father to twin girls.
Ed Roberts is a USA Triathlon Level II Coach specializing in Short Course and Junior & Youth Training, also serving as a US Masters Swimming Adult Learn to Swim Instructor, Official, Coach, and Open Water Safety Director. With experience guiding athletes of all ages and abilities, Ed holds additional certifications including ASCA Stroke School (Level II) and Swimming Strength and Conditioning Specialist (SSCS). He’s played a pivotal role in helping numerous athletes achieve personal bests and podium finishes. Learn more about Ed in his USA Triathlon bio.
I did my first triathlons in the summer of 1999 and then put it away for far too long. While I run with Prospect Park Track Club, multi sport has always been my first love, and I knew I had to join the club after seeing a brick workout in action and having so many BTC swim caps lap me at the Y! I have been a member since 2024, using the park workouts and masters swimming workouts to get myself ready for my first Ironman. Since I learned so much from the members and coaches, I knew I had to give something back. I live in Windsor Terrace with my wife and two kids.
I joined BTC at the beginning of 2023, eager to explore the world of triathlon. Having never participated in any multi-sport event before, I wasn’t sure what to expect—but just a few months after joining, I successfully completed my first IRONMAN 70.3! It was a milestone I never could have reached without the incredible support from BTC. From day one, the community, the expert guidance, and the invaluable resources have helped me grow as an athlete. Whether it’s the structured workouts, the advice from coaches, or the camaraderie of fellow members, BTC has been there every step of the way, helping me build my skills and confidence. Now, as a proud member of the BTC board, I’m excited to give back to the club that’s done so much for me. I’m looking forward to helping ensure that the community remains inclusive, welcoming, and supportive for all athletes, no matter their background or experience level. I’m thrilled to contribute to the club’s continued success and I look forward to the journey ahead!
The 2014 Zurich Triathlon in Switzerland was my first race, after which I was hooked. But it took me until 2018 to do my next race. After training solo for the NYC Triathlon in 2018, and seeing many BTC athletes racing in their club jerseys and the camaraderie after the finish, I decided to join the club. Since then I am enjoying the inspiring community and dedication of BTC in and outside of Prospect Park. The way each athlete supports one another, how our coaches guide us to improve constantly, and the team spirit that is always shown whether you are participating in a race or not, inspires me every day.
I’ve been a runner since I was a teenager but didn’t learn to swim or ride a bike until I signed up for my first triathlon, a Super Sprint, in 2017. I followed it up a year later with a destination 70.3 to celebrate my birthday, and I’ve loved raising the bar for what I can achieve ever since. I moved from Harlem to Brooklyn during the pandemic and joined BTC in 2022 after a few years away from the sport. I was looking for a community of training, racing, and pizza partners, and I have not been disappointed by what I’ve found here. I’m always excited to see others experience the same life-changing impact from participating in this sport and reaching beyond their perceived limits that I myself have.
I joined BTC in 2024 after being referred to the club by an existing member. Having a running and swimming background (and an Ironman Mom), I figured I might as well add another sport and check out the triathlon world. I immediately found a great local community of dedicated athletes in BTC including training partners to answer my millions of questions and motivate me to work harder. After completing my first triathlon in summer 2024, the famous (infamous?) Staten Island sprint, I was hooked to the chaos, technical aspects and physical challenge of the sport. I’ve since done 4 other races (sprints and an Olympic) and am currently gearing up for my first 70.3. Joining BTC has been so valuable for me in finding a group of similarly crazy athletes, and I’m excited to give back!
I was inspired to start triathlons after losing my grandpa, an avid triathlete, to cancer in 2018. I started racing in Missouri and Minnesota before moving to NYC. Early on, I learned how important great training buddies are. Triathlon can be intimidating, so having a community to learn from and grow with makes it much more fun! I joined BTC in 2023, and my favorite experience was training for the Jones Beach 70.3 in 2024. I’m passionate about inclusivity in sport, and I love to see people of all backgrounds, ages, and paces cross the finish line. You can often find me at strength and run sessions, or at Brighton Beach on summer weekends! Can’t wait to train with you!
I joined BTC when I moved to Brooklyn in 2023, eager to put some organization and community behind the sport I had loved so much. I started triathlon in high school, and for almost a decade I trained and raced solo, without any sustained coaching, guidance or even real advice. BTC has given me an incredible support system and has gotten me excited to push my limits in triathlon again (and also when to take it easy!). Nothing beats seeing BTC gear out on the Prospect Park loop or on a race course halfway across the country, and I’m thrilled to be surrounded by other people crazy enough to find their way to the world of multisport!
I am a passionate endurance athlete with a lifelong love for running and racing. A former collegiate runner gone sedentary, I rediscovered my competitive drive through triathlons, completing two Ironman races before moving to New York City. Upon joining Brooklyn Tri Club, I found a supportive community that helped reignite my enthusiasm for training and racing.
I first joined BTC in 2022, a few months after racing my first sprint tri on a whim and moving to Brooklyn. As a novice to triathlon and the borough, I couldn’t have asked for a better community to welcome me to both the sport and the city. With inspiration from my BTC training buddies, coaches and mentors, I’ve competed in races I had never dreamed of training for in that first season, including my first 70.3 and marathon. I can’t wait to continue building our community and growing the sport that brings us all together. See you in Prospect Park!
My first sprint triathlon was in Ukraine in 2013, where I participated on my mountain bike with my dad’s support. After that experience, I was hooked! A few years later, after moving to NYC, I wanted to find a local community and meet new people, so I joined BTC in 2017. My unforgettable kickoff was the Pancake Triathlon on Staten Island. I’m grateful for the many connections and friendships I’ve built through our shared love of the sport and the support we offer each other in this club.
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