10 QUESTIONS WITH ...

She’s the world champion triathlete devoted to dogs and the Yorkshire Dales – meet Team GB’S rising star

1 You’re on track for Tokyo. Why the triathlon?

My dad was a track runner and my mum a national swimmer, so they encouraged me to try everything. I started swimming when I was five and took up running at senior school. When I began winning races, my parents suggested I focus on one sport, but I didn’t want to give up either! I entered my first triathlon when I was 16 but I came last. I fell off my bike and walked part of the way.

2 But you went back for more?

I’ve always wanted to be an Olympian. I worked on my cycling and kept competing throughout school and university. It hasn’t been easy. When I was 20, I developed a stress fracture in my foot from overuse and was told I might never run again. I took two years off. Tokyo has been a bit of a bumpy ride, even without lockdown: on the day I flew to Japan for the Olympic test event in 2019, my boyfriend, Josh, broke his neck in a bike accident. He fully recovered and I made Team GB, but it could have been very different.

3 How did you feel when the Games were postponed?

There were a lot of tears and it was hard to motivate myself again to train. I went into ‘winter-training’ mode, sticking to long, steady rides and runs. When pools closed, I didn’t swim for nine weeks – the longest I’ve had out of the water.

4 Where have you been training?

Last summer, I swam in the River Wharfe in Yorkshire, where I live, but I didn’t like the feel of the branches against my feet. I love riding up steep hills like Langbar for the views, and for running, I head to Fewston Reservoir or Harewood House. Alfie, my cavapoo, sometimes joins me, although he’s not really a running dog. He gets carried away at the start, but I’m dragging him home by the end.

5 Are you a country girl at heart?

I love being outside. I grew up in Manchester and spent weekends walking in the Peak District with my parents and three sisters. In the summer, we’d take our caravan to Cornwall, where we would surf and swim every day. Now, I live near the Yorkshire Dales and couldn’t imagine living in a city.

6 Have you had any time off ?

It’s been nice to be at home with Josh and Alfie. I’m not good at sitting still, but I love cooking and am often in the kitchen. I’ve also enjoyed going on hikes up the Yorkshire Three Peaks. Usually, I’m not meant to walk far to allow my body to rest between training sessions, so this has been a real treat.

7 How are you gearing up for Tokyo?

I’ve been training 25 hours a week to prepare, including four swims, four runs, five rides and two gym sessions. I don’t stick to a diet for most of the year, but the night before a race, I eat white rice, bread and lots of salt. I don’t eat vegetables for four days before because they take too long to digest. After competing, I always have a burger. I spend ages before the race deciding where to go for the best one.

8 Any other race-day rituals?

I find it hard to sleep the night before a race because I’m so excited. I have a recurring dream that I’m late and my bike is still in its box. On the day, I sit in my hotel room watching Louis Theroux documentaries. I get a bit nervous – particularly before the swim, where there’s a lot of dunking and grabbing of feet – but I just want to have fun with my friends.

9 So are you friends with your competitors?

It’s an odd dynamic. We want to beat each other, but we support each other, too. During a qualifying event in 2019, I was neck-andneck with my friend, Jess Learmonth, and we crossed the finish line holding hands. We were disqualified, but I don’t regret it. It showed that sport doesn’t always have to be aggressive.

10 But this time you’re going for gold?

I’m aiming for a top five performance. I want to do well, but so does everyone. As world champion, I know there’s a bit of pressure on me, but it’s my first Olympics and I want to enjoy it.

“Alfie, my cavapoo, sometimes runs with me, but by the end, I’m dragging him home”