Good news for all the UK paratriathletes out there – a new mass-participation event series has been created specifically for you, offering five different distances and landing first at the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic rowing venue Dorney Lake on Sunday 9 August 2015.
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Recruited to help the launch were Olympic sprinter and TV personality Iwan Thomas, Lance Corporal Derek Derenalagi and Paralympian and founder Sophia Warner (pictured below). Warner says that she was inspired to create the series after racing the London Triathlon and finding it daunting to enter an able-bodied event – even as an elite athlete.
“Disability sport falls into two main categories: rehabilitation and elite – with very few opportunities for the majority in between,” she added. “Para Tri is the realisation of a long-held dream to create a series of dedicated events that anyone with a disability can enter.”
Participants can choose from five different paratriathlon events: the ‘Sprint Para Tri’ (150m swim/3km bike/1km run) is aimed at absolute beginners – and if participants want to face the challenge with able-bodied family, friends and colleagues they can invite them to make up a team for one of the two Para Tri relay events.
Athletes looking for a bigger challenge can sign up to the ‘Half Para Tri’ (400m swim/10km bike/2.5km run), or enter the ‘Full Para Tri’ and take on the same distances as our elite paratriathletes at Rio 2016 (750m swim/20km bike/5km run).
Lance Corporal Derek Derenalagi, who is also supported by Help for Heroes said: “High-profile events like the Paralympics have inspired the nation, and the number of people with disabilities involved in sport has never been higher. We hope Para Tri will help this trend to continue.
“This is going to be a fantastic event for everyone to get involved in. Families and friends can compete together or you can take on the challenge on your own. There is something for everyone.”
Further information, including how to register for the inaugural event, is available at www.paratri.com, with regular updates available on Twitter and Facebook.
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Will you be entering the Para Tri Series? Let us know in the comments below!
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