Justin Riele | IRONMAN Wales 2026

Ahead of IRONMAN Wales 2026, I had the opportunity to spend a few hours in Tenby with professional triathlete Justin Riele, photographing him as he prepared to take on one of the most iconic events on the IRONMAN calendar.

Justin's journey to Pembrokeshire had been anything but straightforward. After two serious cycling crashes during 2026, resulting in broken clavicles and scapulas on both sides, simply making it back to full fitness and onto the start line represented an extraordinary comeback. But Justin hadn't travelled from Las Vegas simply to take part - he arrived in Tenby fit, confident and ready to compete at the sharp end of the race.

Rather than create a collection of traditional athlete portraits, I wanted this shoot to show a little more of the person behind the professional. We started over coffee in Tenby before heading around town for a relaxed series of environmental portraits, eventually returning to Justin's accommodation as he prepared his FELT bike and got ready for one of his final training rides before race weekend.

The result is one of my favourite collections since starting Darth Marty Media. There are obviously photographs of the elite athlete, the bike and the unmistakable IRONMAN setting, but hopefully there's also plenty of Justin in there too — relaxed, focused, thoughtful and enjoying the final few days before all of the training, rehabilitation and sacrifice culminated in one very big Sunday in Tenby.

For me, that's always the interesting bit. The achievement might bring me to somebody with a camera, but it's the person behind it that I want to photograph.

Photography That Starts With People. 📸