BILL IS AT HIS BEST IN THE UK
TRIATHLON STAR’S STUNNING WIN
BILL Chaffey’s road to Rio de Janeiro is back on track after a big win in London.
In his best performance since breaking his pelvis in June, 2014 the Rio Paralympic Games hopeful took out his second ITU Paratriathlon Event in London over the weekend.
Chaffey’s ascension to the top of world paratriathlon came after the Tweed Heads policeman and ironman was hit by a truck, leaving him a paraplegic 10 years ago.
Since then, the athlete has won four ITU paratriathlon world championships and is well on the way to a Rio berth next year after leading from start to finish in the PT1 class in London.
The win comes after a disappointing Madrid event in which Chaffey placed second behind Jetze Plat in the Spanish capital early last month.
“I had a disappointing race in Madrid and although second was still good, the racing’s tougher so I have to be tougher,” said Chaffey, who broke his hip during training on the eve of the world championships last year.
“I have just had a couple of weeks training at Aix Les Bains in France with the QAS and that has been great.
“I will return home now to see the family after being away for a month and the major focus now is the Rio Test Event on August 1 and the ITU World Championships in Chicago in September.”
With the fastest swim and hand cycle splits of the event, Chaffey’s time of 1:00.16 proved too fast for the likes of the Netherlands’ Geert Schipper (1:03.24) and Britain’s Phil Hogg (1:04.18).
Chaffey said Rio is his main focus and admits the chance to compete at the pinnacle event of world sport is a motivation to keep at his best.
“When I first started in the sport there was no spot on the team for paratriathlon in Rio. I just did it because I loved the sport,” he said.
“But it gives you one more thing to focus on which is really great.
“I have been around for a while but there are so many new people coming into the sport now and they are making massive gains in the early stages of their careers.
“I’ve got a good team around me.
‘‘We know what the focus is and just what I need to do now.
“There are of course stepping stones along the way but getting ready for Rio is the ultimate goal.”
... There are so many new people coming into the sport now and they are making massive gains in the early stages of their careers
BILL CHAFFEY