Sandra Hunter always has been an active person.
She’s competed in triathlons, subscribes to a regular exercise routine and even biked the length of the United Kingdom.
Despite a life devoted to fitness, Hunter says she embraces it much more when a goal stands before her. That generally means a competition is on the horizon, and she has a big one.
In June, Hunter will compete in the 2025 World Triathlon Multisport Championships Pontevedra in Spain as a member of Team USA. Hunter, the Francie Kraker Goodridge Collegiate Professor of Kinesiology and professor of kinesiology in the School of Kinesiology, qualified in the female 60-64 age group in the aquathlon.
Aquathlons involve a 1,000-meter open-water swim followed by a 5-kilometer run.
“It’s basically triathlon without the bike,” Hunter said. “I compete in triathlons, but to do so internationally, it’s easier to not travel with a bike, so competing in the aquathlon is more convenient.”
The international competition in Spain will not be her first one abroad. In August, she traveled to her home country of Australia for the 2024 World Triathlon Aquathlon Championships where she finished 14th and was the second-highest-placing American in her age group.
As an added bonus, she was accompanied by her daughter, Kennedy Rainwater, who in June won a national title in the women’s category of the Standard Aquathlon National Championships in Omaha, Nebraska, and then finished second in her age group in Australia.
“Kennedy swims at the University of Illinois and is a distance swimmer, and she can also run fast, which is an unusual combination for an accomplished swimmer,” Hunter said. “When Kennedy is not college swimming, she is coached by a world class triathlete in running. So we are all interested in her being on the podium again and possibly winning this year in Spain.”
Hunter was born, raised and educated in Australia, then lived in England for a year before moving to Colorado for four years and spending the last 21 years as a faculty member at Marquette University in Wisconsin. She came to U-M in August.
While in Wisconsin, she said, she was involved with a triathlon group, and several years ago was training with a master’s swim group who said they were planning to try to qualify for Team USA in the aquathlon.
“I thought, ‘I can do that,’ so I competed in the nationals and I got on the team. Then COVID hit,” Hunter said. “When the world championships were in Australia several years later, I thought, ‘I’m going back.’ And that was about the time my daughter was old enough to qualify.”
Qualifying involves competing in an age group in the national competition and finishing at least in the top 18. In qualifying for the championships in Australia, Hunter finished fourth in her age group in the nationals in Texas in 2023.
While dealing with a knee injury that turned out to be a torn meniscus, and then a rotator cuff issue, she placed ninth in her age group in Omaha in 2024. She has since had her knee repaired and her shoulder is healing, and now she is seeking a group to train with in Ann Arbor.
“I haven’t got my people yet,” she said. “It’s so much more motivating to swim and train with people who have similar goals.”
Hunter said she plans to ramp up training for the international competition this month, running and swimming several times a week, then biking at least twice and incorporating strength training.
“I’m already starting to think about how I’m going to train. At the moment, it’s relax and get strong, and then in January start to build,” she said. “It keeps me busy.”
Hunter has never been one to sit still for long. About 30 years ago, after graduating and working for a couple years in Sydney, she obtained a work visa and spent a year with her twin sister, who lived in England.
While there, she decided to bike from Land’s End in southwestern England to John O’Groats at the northeastern tip of Scotland. The more than 900-mile journey, which she traversed largely solo, took her about three weeks to complete, with a weeklong break in between to hike the Lake District area.
“It was really hard. It was in April and was not great weather,” she said. “When I went back to Australia, that’s when I started doing triathlons.”
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Australia has always held her heart, so returning to the “Land Down Under” for the aquathlon championships was a true treat — even if it felt a little strange to be wearing the red, white and blue Team USA uniform.
“It was great to go back. I do miss Australia,” said Hunter, who had not been back to Australia in about four years before the competition. “Not to be competing for Australia, it was almost like the Australians were like, ‘We’re going to beat you!’ But it was fantastic.”
Hunter said she is looking forward to the trip to Spain with her husband and daughter and competing as long as her body allows her.
“I think it’s important to have a goal to motivate,” Hunter said. “It’s really hard to just get out there and train when you haven’t got a goal, which is why I keep competing if I can. Exercise is medicine. It’s the most underrated therapy.”
Q&A
What memorable moment in the workplace stands out?
Meeting Francie Kraker Goodridge on campus for the first time in November. My collegiate professor position is named after Francie. I chose Francie because she is a Michigan alum who ran track (800 and 1,500 meters) for the United States in the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games and was the first female track coach for U-M in the 1980s. It was wonderful to connect with Francie and her husband, John, and honor her and her achievements for women in athletics.
What can’t you live without?
Aside from movement, it’s hard to live without my family and positive, forward-thinking people. This is what I love about having come to U-M. The leadership at U-M and in Kinesiology is forward thinking and positive and looks for what’s possible.
Name your favorite spot on campus.
The School of Kinesiology Building is a wonderful place to work and walk into each day. Nichols Arboretum is a wonderful place to find some serenity while walking.
What inspires you?
The underdog who works hard, succeeds and influences others to lift them up and see others thrive. There are a lot of women who fit into that bucket.
What are you currently reading?
To be honest, academic papers. But when I can for pleasure, the latest reads have been “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus and “Invisible Women” by Caroline Criado Perez.
Who had the greatest influence on your career path?
Postdoctoral research associate supervisor/adviser: Professor Roger Enoka at the University of Colorado, Boulder. I was in Roger’s lab for four years and he taught me how to be a positive but critical thinker. He helped provide structure and a framework to build a successful academic and influential career.
