Haseeb Ahmad
is a BritishPakistani triathlete from Oadby in Leicestershire. In 2016 he set a Guinness World Record for the fastest Ironman by a blind athlete.
“I noticed my sight was deteriorating from the age of 10 and by 20 I was totally blind. It’s a genetic condition called retinitis pigmentosa that also affects one of my brothers. “My first open-water swim was disastrous.
It was freezing, I was disorientated and had an ill-fitting surfer’s wetsuit. My technique was described as ‘interesting’, but I was shown exactly where to place my hands and how to kick, which is what I needed.
“It wasn’t until I was 39 that I was introduced to tri. Woodhall Spa Triathlon was my first event and I really enjoyed it. I joined the GB development squad in 2009, then went on to run a sub-3hr marathon.
“I set the Ironman world record in Barcelona on 2 October 2016. I’ll always remember the date as it’s my daughter Ayeisha’s birthday. Together with guide Duncan Shea-Simonds we finished in 11 hours and three minutes – knocking seven minutes off the previous mark. I suffered in the heat, but Duncan kept me going.
“Leicester is diverse with a huge Asian contingent into cricket or hockey, so tri’s not a sport they always get fired up about, but I still had a lot of positivity from the Pakistani, Indian and Bangladeshi communities.
“I started writing my autobiography in 2014 to show others that there’s nothing you can’t do if you put your mind to it. I hope it inspires other blind athletes to keep themselves fit and healthy with running and tandem riding, or even Ironman!
“Even my mum has been inspired. She has coeliac disease and diabetes, and often says: ‘Haseeb, I can’t do what you’ve done, but I go out walking!’ My family are mighty proud, and that’s really important.”