Michigan native Gillian Staudt might be the most impressive woman to ever call Santa Clara home. Not only did the 34-year-old former D1 collegiate swimmer take first place in the 2025 Tri Santa Cruz back in August, but she also somehow managed to step foot inside Stan’s Donuts without actually partaking in the gooey goodness that has made her adopted city famous. Perhaps it’s not surprising that donuts aren’t a big part of an elite athlete’s diet, but to step into Stan’s and not enjoy even a donut hole?
“It’s funny that you mention [Stan’s],” chuckled Staudt in an exclusive interview with The Voice. “My boyfriend and I, when I first came out here, he mentioned donuts and how it was a big thing here. Unfortunately, I’m not a donut person. I’m pretty strict with my diet. I have gone with friends before, but have not tried them.”
That strict diet has been one small part of the athletic prowess for Staudt, who was a distance swimmer for the University of Toledo. As is the case for numerous college athletes, when school ended and the graduation cap went on, the question moving forward was how to scratch that competitive itch?
“I did triathlons during the offseason in college, and I enjoyed it back then. I just really like to train for a while and then compete,” acknowledged Staudt on how she got into competing in triathlons. “Once college swimming was over, I was like, ‘What’s next?’ I tried a few marathons. I went to Boston and raced there. But I love swimming and just prefer triathlon over just plain run events.”
The 2025 Tri Santa Cruz was the first particular event of its kind for Staudt. Having first moved to the area in 2021, Staudt competed in various Ironmans and triathlons, but this was her first attempt at this particular distance in Santa Cruz. Staudt and her competitors began with a one-mile swim, followed by a 24-mile bike ride, and ended with a 6.2-mile (10K) run. Compared to previous competitions she’s competed in, Staudt expressed excitement for how this one developed, a back-and-forth race between her and one other woman.
“This race was fun. I led the swim; I got out, and the girl that was behind me ended up passing me during the first initial couple hundred yards on the bike, and then I kind of followed her, not drafting, but I was behind her,” said Staudt. “Right after the second lap, we finished. I ended up passing her.
“She didn’t fall behind too far. We kind of came in together for the bike, and then we were actually in a foot race for a hot second,” continued Staudt. “I led the run, which is a two-loop course, and at the first turnaround, she actually passed me. I was right behind her for a bit, and then, coming up to the turnaround to go for our second lap, I passed her. And then once I went up that hill, I took over the lead and never looked back. That was really fun because I haven’t been in that situation in a while.”
It was a back-and-forth race, but was it a photo finish?
Not quite.
“The last three miles, I knew I had it,” joked Staudt on if there was a sprint to the finish.
Apparently, it was just a casual jog to wrap up first place. Now, can she teach the rest of us how to jog past Stan’s without going inside for a donut?
