Swimming the distance, with Carli Antonopoulos

When we opened the applications for Racefood ambassadors in 2026, Carli's jumped out at us with great vibes from an impressive athlete! And, so, we are stoked to officially welcome Carli Antonopoulos to the 2026 Racefood Team.

This Tuks student is on the charge, holding multiple national long-distance titles (including 800m & 1500m short course) and a regular podium finisher (and winner) of elite open water races. Coming back from a broken wrist in 2025, Carli finished 3rd at the recent Midmar Mile!

But none of that comes easy. And balance high-volume training with her studies, she brings discipline, resilience and a deep understanding of what endurance performance really demands - both in and out of the water.

"Most of my training is around 2 hours long per session twice a day, so I spend about 4hours in the pool every day. Fuelling myself correctly for these sessions is extremely important and I need to make sure I get the correct about of carbs, protein and fats to carry me throughout the day. Racefood is extremely helpful in my pre-training snack as it has a good amount of carbs and it super easy and delicious to eat" says Carli.

When it comes to the sharp end of the season, Carli says "I absolutely love the Racefood bars as I tend to get nervous before races so don’t always feel like eating. Racefood bars are super delicious, east to eat and don't repeat on you when racing. They give me the energy needed to race properly".

"In just a few short weeks Carli has already brought a fresh new energy to Racefood and the team, which is really exciting. SA Open Water Nationals is coming up in March, and we can't wait to be screaming her name cheering her on!" says Chelsea van Rooyen, Racefood Brand Manager.

Let's go, Carli!