Olympic blow for debutant Georgia
AN OLYMPIC debut was meant to mean unlimited chances to take in live sport for Team GB triathlete Georgia Taylor-Brown.
The Manchester-born star’s parents ran and swam respectively at national level and she represented Sale Harriers in crosscountry as a junior athlete.
Sport has always been part of her life, but Covid restrictions mean she won’t be able to tour Tokyo to cheer on team-mates competing in the other 31 sports this summer.
“I feel really sad about it, to be honest. It’s my first Games and I don’t get to experience the whole magic around it,” said the 26-year-old, who is working with Purplebricks to encourage the nation to get behind Team GB on their journey to Tokyo.
“I would go to watch any sport, but I’d love to see gymnastics live. They’re incredible athletes.
“It’s a shame it’s not going to be the same, but at least the athletes still get to compete and it’s not fully cancelled. I have to look at the positive side and hope I’m going to Paris in 2024!”
Taylor-Brown has crossed the Pennines and is now based in Leeds, home to a number of elite triathletes at the Brownlee Centre at the University of Leeds.
Closure of facilities meant she was reliant on the city’s waterways and parks to train in, and swim, bike, run alongside team-mate and close friend Jess Learmonth.
Taylor-Brown, who won the national under-20 crosscountry title in 2017, loves the muck and nettles but you won’t catch her swimming in rivers with Learmonth any more.
“If we weren’t able to train indoors through this lockdown, you wouldn’t find me in a lake at this time of year. There’s not a chance in hell!” she said.
“That was fine last year, in the summer, but the novelty of that has worn off a bit. If I wasn’t meeting a group, I’d really struggle to motivate myself to get there.
“Jess and I very similar on the run, we just push each other, but she doesn’t like the grass sessions at all. You definitely hear a lot of funny noises coming from her. I’m a cross-country runner, so I live for the grass. I absolutely love it, but Jess doesn’t like those sessions!”
Taylor-Brown is backing Purplebricks’s Home Support campaign, which has seen artwork commissioned to adorn ‘For Sale’ boards to fire up support for the Games.
She revealed the first of the boards in Leeds and feels the public will be inspired by the images.
“These special boards look amazing, and will make us feel so supported as we compete in Tokyo,” she said. “Every time I see one around Leeds, it will remind me of what I’m training towards and what I’m hoping to achieve this summer. The support for Team GB is always incredible and this year it feels more special.” ● Purplebricks is encouraging the nation to get behind Team GB with the same amazing home support as London 2012. Visit @PurplebricksUK. To enter the draw to receive one of 2,020 limited edition prints, visit page. purplebricks.co.uk/teamgb_ homesupport/