In this episode, Lauren Kuntz shares her journey from climate science to pioneering women's multi-events in track and field, including her efforts to establish the Women's Decathlon World Championships. We explore the intersection of gender equity, sport innovation, and personal resilience.
Lauren Kuntz is the founder of the Women’s Decathlon World Championships, decathlon pioneer, and the world record holder in the Icosathlon or the double decathlon. She is also the co-founder and CEO of Gaiascope, an energy technology start-up, which was successfully acquired by ENGIE in April 2025, holds a PhD in climate science from Harvard University, and is currently an assistant track and field coach specializing in pole vault at Carnegie Mellon University.
Chapters
02:21 Balancing multiple passions and roles
04:28 How climate science and sports intersect in Lauren's work
09:07 Understanding the decathlon, heptathlon, and ICOsathlon
12:12 The journey into multi-events and breaking gender barriers
18:03 Organizing the Women's Decathlon World Championships
45:38 The 2025 event cancellation and resilience
52:11 The future of women's decathlon and advocacy efforts
01:00:04 The importance of storytelling and increasing visibility
01:05:30 Personal experiences with Safe Sport and advocacy
01:07:29 Closing thoughts and call to action for listeners
Keywords: women's decathlon, track and field, gender equity, sports innovation, climate science, decathlon, ICOsathlon, world championships, athlete advocacy
Hosts in this episode: Anna
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