Legally blind Para triathlete wanting to be a good role model for Para sports to grow in Australi
2012 I fell into triathlons to get more pilots for tandem cycling. My pilots were tri athletes and they wanted me to try triathlons on the tandem. I found a passion for the sport and loved swimming, cycling and thought running off the bike a challenge.
2013 I couldn't compete in triathlons by myself because of the vision impairment and struggled to train without causing injuries to myself. I ende
d up in hospital 3 times because I was too independent in my training. I received a grant by the independent living centre to purchase a high performance road tandem, Duratec 10 speed Ultegra 14 kg beast. Tandem Bike Australia named it the Flying Gherkin!
2014 I moved to Melbourne to follow my para triathlon dream, to represent Australia at the world championships. It is probably the hardest sport for anyone with a disability and not seeing that well you have to trust a guide to get you through the triathlon course safely with speed. My search for a guide to get me to the Para Nationals in January I met Jody Gillchrist who competed with me. We finished a sprint distance triathlon with 30 other para triathlon athletes and we came 2nd in my disability category. I recieved a letter congratulating me on getting into the Elite World Championship team for Canada 2014. The two biggest hurdles will be finding financial support to get my through coaching, training and travelling to the world championships in 2014. Finding a guide and supporting the guide to come to Canada will be also a tough mission.
2016 Will be the first para triathlon at the Paralympics! If I can find a guide to commit and train/race with so I can get the Flying Gherkin to the Worlds or Paralympics this will be a dream come true!
