The early days

From about the age of 6 I developed a strong passion for cycling. Not knowing where to start at an early age, my dad signed me up for a trial bike session with the Junior Triathlon club. To say I loved it would be an understatement, it brung out a competitive side in me no one had seen in my earlier sports before this. After falling in love with the bike sessions and making lots of new friends, I signed up for the swim and run sessions. My love for the cycling sessions certainly outweighed my dislike for the run sessions. However, the coaches were brilliant and pushed me to my limits in the best way possible.

Getting the bug

My first Triathlon was in York a few months after joining the club. I had no idea what was about to happen. Again, the coaches were amazing showing the younger athletes like myself what to do and where to go. After finishing the race, I knew I had the bug for competing and there was only one thing I could do. Get better!

During my 6 years at the club, I found my passion and skills definitely lay in cycling. Each season I got stronger in cycling and when I was about 11 something clicked with swimming and that became a very strong discipline also. Heading into the summer triathlon season in T2 and T3, I was unstoppable on the first 2 sections of the triathlon, but running was still my least favourite part. Ironically, my very last triathlon in 2022 was my best performance to date. By this point I had been rowing with Leeds rowing club for around 8 months and it had helped me with core strength needed for running.

What happened next

At 14 years old, a coach from Leeds Rowing Club came into my secondary school to recruit new juniors. The junior programme was getting a revamp and was in desperate need of new athlete’s as the club had struggled since Covid. Initially I was chosen for basic testing due to my height. I passed the first strength and cardio tests with ease thanks to the training provided by WJTC. Unbeknown to me at the time, most of a rower’s strength comes from the legs, which with cycling so much, was my power.

Initially I combined rowing and triathlon training, but it became clear that I had to choose between the two sports as many of the sessions clashed. Whilst very much a novice at rowing, WJTC had taught me all I needed to know about competitions, and race mentality. In my first season I raced at several regattas, which included Inter regionals (racing for Yorkshire) where my crew and I came 4^th and later in the season British Championships where I also came 4^th.

Rowing highlights

I am in my 4^th rowing season and it has been a complete whirlwind. There have been so many highs and some lows. This rollercoaster of emotions can happen in any sport but it’s how you respond, particularly the lows that shapes an athlete’s career.

In 2024 we placed 4^th at the most prestigious junior regatta – Nat Schools.

In 2025, I combined beach sprint rowing alongside my regular rowing. This is a new branch of rowing that will be show cased in the Summer 2028 Olympics for the first time. In a very busy season coming 4^th at Nat Schools J16  (yes there is a definite 4^th theme), 6^th in a coxed 4 J16, at Brit Champs, 4^th in a open men’s coxed 4 at Brit Champs, and  3^rd in a J18 8 at Brit Champs and breaking some minor course records throughout the season.

Alongside the successes I was also learning how to beach sprint.

In my first beach sprint season I came 2^nd in Brit Champs and was then selected to be part of the Under 19 GBR squad to compete in the Coup de la Jeunesse which is the U19 European championships. Getting my GBR kit and being selected for the team has to be a personal highlight and I feel so privileged to have represented my country. Sadly I didn’t win any medals, but the experience was truly amazing.

What’s next

I am currently studying ‘A’ levels alongside rowing 20+ hours a week. I am on the Performance Development Academy for rowing which is a pathway for prospective Olympic athletes. Still dabbling in beach sprints and hope to be selected for the youth Olympics later this year.

My advice to Junior Triathletes

Keep trying. Effort will pay off in the end, it doesn’t matter if you are the quickest or the slowest if you have tried your best, you can be proud of yourself. Listen to the coaches, they will always try to make you the best version of yourself.

As I have shown, triathlon may not be the path that you end up on, but enjoy the journey that it takes you on, as you will be a stronger person in the end.