Paratriathlon Set for Paralympics

22/12/2011

The popularity of paratriathlon as a disability sport has been growing over the past five years.  Now it's received a further boost with the award of full Paralympic status for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. 

Triathlon is a demanding sport for able bodied athletes with the combination of swimming, running and cycling.  You might then think it would be even more challenging for those with limited mobility. 

Britain’s leading paratriathlete Jane Egan explains: “Paratriathlon races are not easy, involving training across three areas.  Each race consists of a 750 metre swim, a 20km bike ride and a 5km run - so it’s tough!”

Jane, 41, won her second World Championship gold medal in September in Beijing and is now back on home soil in Renfrewshire, near Glasgow, working on her gruelling winter training schedule.  The World Championships in Beijing were the final event in the paratriathlon calendar which is now clear until April 2012 when the European Triathlon Championships will be held in Eilat, Israel. 

Jane has been a wheelchair user for the last four years and has been competing successfully in paratriathlon events for the last two years.  She explains the main differences between standard triathlon and paratriathlon: “The 750 metre swim uses only upper body strength as the participants’ legs are held together with binding, to give everyone the same chance.  Because of this we always swim in wet suits, which help with buoyancy. 

“We use hand cycles for the 20km bike ride and then I use a sports wheelchair for the 5k sprint.  Paratriathlon has an added challenge as the time taken to make the transition from one piece of equipment to another is added to your race time so you need to move from one element to the next at speed.”

Jane, who worked as a solicitor before giving up work because of illness, found herself needing a wheelchair due to a neurological condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, which leads to chronic pain and significant movement disorder.  She now works closely with the British Triathlon Federation to raise the profile and credibility of the sport.

“I would encourage anyone who thinks disabled sports are easy to try paratriathlon” says Jane.

“They will see how much commitment and training is needed to build up the strength and stamina required to compete at the highest levels.”

Allied Mobility wish Jane the best of luck with her winter training and have our fingers crossed she is fit and well for selection for the European Championships next year.

For more information on Jane Egan visit http://britishtriathlonmedia.org/profiles/detail/jane-egan