LEARNING FROM BEST

Q Michellie Jones (pictured far right with Kelly) is a twotime ITU world champion and Ironman world champion. You won the Rio Paralympics together too. What did you learn from working with her?

A There is no doubt Michellie helped me get to where I am today. She was so patient and there are lots of things about preparing for training, the attention to detail. I always alwasy fascinated before a race how she would talk about the course, where the buoy was, exactly where we were coming out of the water. She was very specific about the mount and dismount area and where we would put our shoes on and off. For someone who was new to it all, you usually do it for fun and you kind of just see what you come up with. But in this environment it was premeditated and thought through. you write your race plan and you apply that and execute that race plan. In that regard she has taught me a lot.

Q She has been on the big stage so many times. How did that help in race?

A She was great in taking the pressure off me. I handle pressure well but she was mindful of not worrying about external things and just doing what you need to do. One of her sayings that still stays with me was letting the run come with me. It was about trusting your body and where you are and not forcing it. We had such a wonderful partnership and I’ll never forget that day together in Rio and celebrating that day together. It was an absolute partnership and something very special.