Sheryl Mohwinkel-Fleming at the finish after winning the Gold Nugget Triathlon on Sunday, May 19, 2024. (Bill Roth / ADN) May has been a powerful month for Sheryl Mohwinkel-Fleming, who followed up her first-place performance at the annual Bike for Women by producing the fastest time at the 2024 Gold Nugget Triathlon on Sunday. She was inspired and powered through the swimming, biking and running portions of the largest and longest-running all-female triathlon in the country by the memory of her late mother, Diane Mohwinkel who was a regular participant and advocate for both events before unexpectedly passing away last month .
“She’s the main reason I’m doing it,” Mohwinkel-Fleming said. “I thought I could do it with her (bib) number so that made it special to me.” It marked her first time since 2018 participating in the event that “is dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls through athletics.
” Mohwinkel-Fleming said when she won in 2018, she was informed she was the oldest competitor to win the race and with her mark Sunday of 1 hour, 3 minutes, 42 seconds, she set a new standard. Sheryl Mohwinkel-Fleming and Diane Mohwinkel. (Photo courtesy of Sheryl Mohwinkel- Fleming) “It shows that you can still do it when you’re older,” Mohwinkel-Fleming said.
“I’m 52 to now and my mom had just turned 82 and she won her age group in her last race.” While she and her mom were planning on participating in the Bike for Women as a mother-daughter duo,.
