I will See to it
Triathlete Irene believes she’s in good form for podium finish
WHAT started out as a test to push herself to the limit has turned into a passion for national woman triathlete Irene Chong See Win.
Irene started out a synchronised swimmer and even competed in the 2006 Doha Asian Games.
She, however, began to fall out of love with synchronised swimming and decided to try out triathlon.
“Synchronised swimming is a hard sport but the training is focused solely at the swimming pool. I felt it was getting monotonous, so I tried out triathlon to challenge and push myself to the extreme,” said Irene.
“There are three disciplines that you need to master in triathlon – swimming, cycling and running – and the scenery is ever changing. And I loved it.”
Unfortunately, her parents were not too keen on her changing sports, especially to triathlon.
“My parents are still not really supportive of the switch, but I’m glad they didn’t stop me from doing it,” she said.
Although she lacked exposure and experience, Irene still competed at the 2015 Singapore SEA Games – and it nearly paid off.
She clocked 2’22:09 to finish fourth – just one hundredth of a second off bronze medallist Arunsiri Sanruthai of Thai, who posted 2’22:08.
Now, however, Irene believes that she’s in a better position to challenge for a podium finish at the KL Games.
Irene and Zoe Bowden as well as men triathletes Rikigoro Shinozuka and Ryan Tan will be in action at the Putrajaya Water Sports Complex in Presint 6 on Aug 21.
Triathlon, which comprises 1.5km swimming, 40km cycling and 10km running, has only been held three times in the Games’ history – in Manila 2005, Korat 2007 and Singapore 2015.
Irene is banking on her four-month (AprilJuly) intensive training in Hong Kong and Canada with Rikigoro to get the medals in the biennial Games next month.
“I think all the training I’ve undergone and overseas competitions I’ve competed in since the last SEA Games have made me a better triathlete,” said the 27-year-old Universiti Malaya sports science student.
“We are going to compete at home, so expectations will be high on us to win and I do feel the pressure a bit. The fact is that triathletes from the Philippines and Thailand will start as favourites.
“But that doesn’t mean I’m going to just make up the numbers. I’m better prepared this time.
“I hope to get on the podium and justify to my parents that I did the right thing in switching to triathlon. That, I hope, will convince them to give me their full blessings.”
I think all the training I’ve undergone and overseas competitions I’ve competed in since the last SEA Games have made me a better triathlete.
Irene Chong See Win