Radical Body Confidence, Dropping 52 Pounds, and Building a Business: Stephanie Havelka, EP 309
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In this inspiring episode of Champions Mojo for Masters Swimmers, host Kelly Pallas sits down with Stephanie Havelka, a 55-year-old Olympic trials kayaker, Kona Ironman finisher, and founder of Sportkini, a revolutionary swimwear brand designed for athletic women. Stephanie shares her journey from competitive swimming in Massachusetts to conquering multiple water sports, including outrigger canoe paddling and flatwater kayaking, all fueled by a champion mindset. Her entrepreneurial journey began at age 14 with sketches of better swimsuits, culminating in a bold move to Australia to learn from a top-tier swimsuit designer. She returned to the U.S., invested her savings into producing 700 custom suits, and successfully tested her concept—laying the foundation for Sportkini. The brand’s core mission is to create high-performance, stylish bikinis that fit athletic women of all shapes and sizes, with a focus on durability, comfort, and body confidence. Stephanie also reveals her personal transformation: losing 52 pounds at 55 by reducing stress, addressing an autoimmune condition, and shifting her focus inward. Her recent success includes swimming the fastest time in the U.S. in the 55–59 age group for the 100m freestyle, despite never wearing a tech suit before. She’s now refining her technique and eyeing future swim meets with renewed purpose. The episode is a powerful call to embrace body confidence, support small businesses, and keep evolving at any age.
Body confidence starts with embracing your story—stretch marks, scars, and all—as proof of resilience and strength.
You don’t need to be a pro to start a business: Stephanie began sketching swimsuits at 14 and launched Sportkini after years of persistence and learning.
Stress reduction is critical for health and weight loss: Stephanie’s 52-pound transformation was driven by lowering cortisol and prioritizing self-care.
Athletic swimwear must be built for real use—durability, fit, and freedom of movement matter more than fashion trends.
It’s never too late to return to sport: Stephanie’s 109-second 100m freestyle at 55 proves that with focus and training, new performance peaks are possible.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Gift of Your Body
“That body is your gift. Is it not taking you through triathlons? Did you have a baby? Let's embrace this body that we have. It's such a gift.”
From Swimmer to Water Woman
Stephanie traces her journey from competitive swimming in Massachusetts to becoming a global water athlete, including Ironman Kona, outrigger canoe paddling, and Olympic trials kayaking—each step fueled by her love for the water and a champion mindset.
The Birth of Sportkini
“I went with them and we went to this area of Australia where it's a four square mile area where Billabong, Rip Curl, all the big surf companies are making all their producing their products. And so I met a lady.”
Designing for the Athletic Woman
“I don't want to wonder where my swimsuit is or is not. I don't want to be picking at it, pulling at it. I don't want to wonder because you know what? I'm a sporty chick.”
Transformation, Triumph, and Future Goals
“I lost 52 pounds. How did you do it? You know what? A large part of this was... I changed my life. The level of stress, the level of cortisol needed to come down so I could focus on myself.”
“That body is your gift. Is it not taking you through triathlons? Did you have a baby? Let's embrace this body that we have. It's such a gift.”
“I lost 52 pounds. How did you do it? You know what? A large part of this was... I changed my life. The level of stress, the level of cortisol needed to come down so I could focus on myself.”
“Stretch marks are part of your story. I have one woman who swore to me she would never wear a two-piece. She's almost 80 now. She's still wearing a sport kini.”
Host
Guest
Stephanie Havelka
person
Sportkini
brand
Kelly Pallas
person
Australia
place
Champions Mojo podcast
media
outrigger canoe paddling
other
Kona Ironman
other
flat water kayak
other
Olympic trials
other
Billabong
brand
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