2025 Year In Sport: Morgan Newberry & India Lee
A season in sport is rarely a straight line. It’s shaped by long blocks of work that no one sees, moments that go exactly to plan, and others that force you to stop, rethink and adapt.
As the year draws to a close, we asked KOTWF elite athletes Morgan Newberry, professional para-cyclist and India Lee, professional triathlete, to look back on their 2025 seasons. They reflect on the performances, challenges and decisions that shaped their year, and how those experiences are influencing the way they think about 2026.
Here’s what they had to say.
What was your biggest win?
India: “Ironman Les Sables was my biggest win of the year - a dream day out really. My first time winning an Ironman and something I never really knew if I was capable of. A special day because I had some of my closest friends there and was able to see them a ton throughout the day. It was also the first race my brother, Edd, had been to watch for a long time. Having good days out is made exponentially better by having people there who you’re close to.”
Morgan: “Biggest win of the year is a literal one. Silver in the time trial at road worlds in Ronse this year. This was a strange one as race wise, conditions were biblical rain and I knew I had good legs and had been sitting on the time trial a lot, but the warm UK summer didn't prepare me for a washed out TT, so I felt I raced extremely cautiously and slowly through any technical sections, but I think having good legs in the parts that mattered versus taking less risks on the sketchy parts paid off and I won my first world champs TT medal which felt like a big win.”
What was a difficult or disappointing moment?
India: “T100 Singapore. DNF. The first race of the year always feels like a step into the unknown. I’d had a really strong winter of training and I felt fit and ready to go. A good start was quickly followed by puking up everything I tried to take on during the bike and I quickly went from feeling great to having to stop. What I like about this photo is coach Sam’s reaction to me puking. Sure, he’s laughing at me while holding a drill (it’s a fan), as just goes to show that he’s there to support me and that’s the priority, rather than just focusing on the result.”
Morgan: “Difficult moment. Can't lie, and touch wood. I've had a really brilliant year I don't think I really have a disappointment… My first race of the year (a world cup) I didn't perform as well as I would've liked position wise and then I didn't have many races this year between first race and final para cycling race so I was going into the unknown a bit with form for the world championships.”
An unforgettable race or event
India: “Ironman World Championships, Kona. The whole race experience was everything I’d hoped it would be. The result sheet shows I under performed but I gained so much from the time I spent in Kona, it gave me huge amounts of motivation for next year. This photo is from early on in the run, when I felt great. Behind the lens is Jack, a guy who went through unbelievable grief and loss this year, but who still showed up to support me on my biggest day of the year. A quick reminder to make the most of every opportunity.”
Morgan: “Firstly the Road World Championship in Ronse. An amazing race. This was the road race in Belgium this year. This climb made it really very special, and also extremely brutal. But living in the peaks it's nice to have a climb to race up, but just flat and boring. Secondly, National Hill Climb, Bank Road, Matlock. All I can say is what a bloody atmosphere. A big build up to this. I raced 5 weeks of the hill climb season and enjoyed every event in its own way. The final one, the national, found me slightly more tired than I would've liked to have felt after several weeks of hill climb efforts (can't explain the level of deep, nothing compares to how hard you can go) but just it being a local climb to me had me going up it weekly and it was the local chat and a really fun day out that everyone involved should be proud to remember.”
Any behind the scenes photos?
India: “A behind the scenes shot of my last prep run before the race in Kona, surrounded by friends and having a good time. A place with great vibes and aura. We went this year with the intention of learning and gaining knowledge for a full on attempt in 2026. I’ve spent a lot of time training on my own over the past few years. This year I realised that being surrounded by the right people takes away the mental load and allows me to thrive and push harder.”
Morgan: “Behind the scenes training and travel and enjoying bikes.”
What’s your favourite way to rest and recover?
India: “The only thing to do when not training or away racing is hang out with my dog, Ziggy. My most favourite living thing.”
Morgan: “Rest and recovery: pizza and growing my first ever load of tomatoes which included a house move and of course the tomatoes moving too.”
What’s your mission for 2026?
India: “The mission for 2026 is happiness, filling my life with friends and family, and to continue chasing dreams.”
Morgan: “Finding my next level for power for time trialling. Dialling in the position and working on it consistently. Next years para road worlds are in Huntsville, Alabama. My long term goal is to win a world title and keep pushing power numbers to show I still have the ability to be getting better. Also my goal for 2026 is to enjoy the journey still, this year I felt I got the balance right between life and bikes, which is a hard one to balance and not feel too overwhelmed with bikes all the time but also not feel bad for time away from training and bikes.”
