Coach Bios
Our coaches are passionate and knowledgeable athletes each with over a decade of coaching and racing experience. They are the driving force that pushes BTC and our athletes to their best each year. Our coaches are always happy to share their insights to help our athletes accomplish our goals, and are also available for additional coaching beyond BTC. Check out their bios and contact information below!
Benjamin Kessel
Monday Strength
Priority Fitness | benjaminkessel@priorityfitnesstraining.com
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.
Ben was a collegiate athlete and graduated from the University of Buffalo with a degree in Personal Health and Wellness Training. Ben has been a strength and conditioning coach since 2004. He is a USAT Level II coach and a CSCS certified strength coach (among other performance and nutrition accreditations).
Ben actively competes in Triathlon, has won multiple overall races, has qualified for Team USA every year since 2019, and has also represented Team USA at ITU World Championships in 2019 and competed at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Nice, France a week later.
You can find more info about Ben here
Peter Helling
Tuesday Bike
Startline Coaching | phelling@startlinecoaching.com
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
Tuesday Bike
roman.fedosieiev@gmail.com
Roman 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.
“Triathlon is a true passion of mine and I love sharing my knowledge and experience to inspire, guide, and help others to reach their goals and aspirations”.
John Hirsch
Wednesday Run
John Hirsch | evilracingcult@gmail.com
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
Thursday Brick
Race Day Coaching | bktricoach@gmail.com
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.
Edwin Roberts
Friday Masters Swim
swimmingcoach@hiltondynamics.nyc
Meet Ed Roberts: 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.
