A Wellington sixth-former has shot to success as a triathlete, overcoming serious injury from a former sport to win his first-ever National Series triathlon.
Toby Duggan – 17, competed in the British Triathlon Youth and Junior Super Series in the Cotswolds and came First in the Junior category (17-19), despite being nearly the youngest competitor. He also came in 6th overall, in a field of over 100 mixed ages.
“The course was really challenging”, commented Toby. “We started with a 500m swim in the River Avon, followed by a 20k bike ride up steep hills, and finished with a 5k run.
Toby, a student at Wellington School, he only started training for triathlon last autumn after injury prevented him competing in his first sport – waterski-ing. Amazingly, Toby was in the GB water-ski team, competing in the European Series in 2010 and the World Championships in Brisbane in 2011 at the age of 15.
“I broke my back twice in waterskiing accidents, and had to give up the sport. I took up the triathlon as it is a real challenge and I have to be versatile, which I enjoy. I train twice a day, and have to maintain my fitness levels.
Toby will compete again on in North Wales on 29 June, when he hopes to qualify for the World Triathlon Championships.