Professor Vicky Tolfrey leads a team at Loughborough University that is pioneering new approaches to the way paratriathletes train and race – all with an eye firmly on paratriathlon’s debut at the Rio 2016 Olympics… Advertisement >>> Medal events confirmed for paratriathlon’s Olympic debut Paratriathletes compete over three disciplines, in five classification groups (PT1 – PT5). Although the disciplines are the same for the Olympic athlete, the training principles aren’t directly transferrable. The short history of the sport means that effective training principles for the paratriathlete are still being developed, and there’s very little applicable published data in the area. The British Triathlon Federation (BTF) and their paratriathlon performance manager…

The Swim  Advertisement It’s a fairly non-technical swim, with only one full 180° turn round three buoys, so will favour weaker swimmers. But if the water’s choppy, this will play more into the stronger swimmers’ hands. Having a good sighting reference on the way back into the beach will be key.  Transition 1 Out of the water into T1 is quick and sharp. If bunches form on the swim, this will be a key time to try and get ahead of others leading into the non-drafting bike element. Therefore stronger runners could find this advantageous. The Bike Start Like the Olympic course, the bike course features a 180° turn 100-200m…

Paratriathlon’s debut got off to a golden start on the Copacabana earlier today as GB’s Andy Lewis took gold in the PT2 category ahead of race favourite Michele Ferrarin of Italy. Fourth onto the 22km four-lap bike course, he quickly made up ground to start the 5km two-lap run in silver-medal position.  Advertisement “I came onto the last lap of the run and I had [Moroccan] Mohamad Lahna in front of me,” Lewis told 220 at the line. “So I went past him and then he sat behind me. I could just hear his blade tapping the floor and I just thought I’ve got to get away from this guy.…

Race-favourite Lauren Steadman has taken Paralympic GB’s second medal in as many days, adding silver to Andy Lewis’s PT2 gold from yesterday. In a close-fought battle with reigning world champion Grace Norman (USA), the two-time Paralympic swimmer had to claw back the lead after Norman took first blood over the 750m sea swim in Rio. Advertisement Over the ensuing 22km bike leg, Steadman took the lead but by the slimmest of margins, Norman refusing to let the multiple world PT4 champ get away.  Leaving T2, Steadman automatically built up a 10sec gap as lower-leg amputee had to spend longer with the changeover. But within the first 1km of the 5km…

On paratriathlon’s Paralympic debut, ParalympicGB has collected four medals, the latest coming courtesy of a phenomenal PT5 event, where Alison Patrick and Hazel Smith bagged silver ahead of compatriots Melissa Reid and guide Nicole Walters for bronze. The victors were the Aussie pairing of Katie Kelly and triathlon legend Michellie Jones.  Advertisement Exiting T1 after the 750m swim, Reid/Walters were lying in second place behind the Dutch duo of Hakker/van Vliet, but ahead of teammates Patrick/Smith in third. But by the end of the first lap of the four-lap 22km bike, Reid/Walters had taken the lead, with the Dutch in-between the two Brit couples. Chasing in fourth was the formidable…

GB had a great day at the 2016 Beijing International Triathlon with Olympic gold medallist Alistair Brownlee winning the men’s race and the current 70.3 World Champion, GB’s Holly Lawrence taking the women’s. Advertisement This was the first time Ali Brownlee and Lawrence competed in this race, which saw 1,400 professional and amateur athletes from more than 39 countries participate in the fifth annual Beijing International Triathlon, held in the Fengtai District of Beijing. “I was thrilled to return Beijing to race, this was a challenging course, something a bit different after Rio,” said Alistair Brownlee. “The field of professionals was strong with Josh Amberger setting a fast pace on…

The sun shone for the 2,000 athletes taking the plunge in Weymouth Bay for the inaugural Ironman 70.3 and Ironman Weymouth.  Advertisement In the men’s Marc Threlfall (GBR) was first out of the water leading Harry Wiltshire and Stuart Hayes (GBR) onto the bike. This trio were not to be separated until they laced up their racing flats and hit the Esplanade for the foot race.  Threlfall and Wiltshire were joined at the hip for the first 10k of the half marathon, when Hayes made his move on a slightly faltering Threlfall; Wiltshire managed to pull away whilst Threlfall was paying the price, unable to hold the blistering pace he…

Are you racing in Tenby this weekend? Make sure you’re prepared for what is renowned as one of the hardest Ironman courses on the circuit, set on the stunning Welsh coast. Advertisement >>> Ironman Wales 2014 gallery We named Ironman Wales 9th in Iron-distance triathlons: the 11 toughest? Do you agree? Don’t let that dull your appetite though, says 2013 winner Scott Neyedli: “The support and race atmosphere the Tenby locals create is one of the best I’ve experienced worldwide.” One “I would advise anyone to get a practice swim as organised by the Ironman team and drive or cycle parts or whole run/bike loops,” adds Neyedli. “This will help with noting the hard section…

Less than a week after winning Beijing International Triathlon  Olympic Champion Alistair Brownlee has won the Aquathlon World Championships in Cozumel, Mexico with Richard Varga taking second and Tommy Zaferes third. Advertisement  The flat and fast course comprises of a 2.5km opening run, 1km swim and then a second 2.5km run. The run course took place around the FONATUR Marina, with the one-lap swim in the crystal clear waters of the Marina Sea.  Swift on their feet, Brownlee and Crisanto Grajales from Mexico ditched the competition on the first run lap, getting to the crystal clear waters of Cozumel first. However despite having a 15-second deficit, Varga, who has led out of the water…

Spaniard Mario Mola has been the leader of the Columbia Threadneedle Rankings for the majority of the season and will enter Cozumel still grasping tightly to that position. However, Great Britain’s Jonathan Brownlee also has the title in his sights after his win in  WTS Edmonton. He is only 235 points behind Mola and if he can win in Cozumel and keep Mola off the podium the title is his. Advertisement Trying to help Jonny keep Mola off the podium will be brother and Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee, who won the World Aquathlon Champs on Wed 14 September. Richard Murray (RSA) and Fernando Alarza (ESP) are also competing and will be hoping for podium places. How the race…