Peasgood to receive British Triathlon support and funds
Para-triathlon star Alison given ‘World Class’ backing
A PARALYMPIC medal-winning para triathlete from West Fife is to receive funding from a nationwide programme.
Alison Peasgood, who won a silver medal at the Rio de Janeiro games of 2016, has been selected for support by the UK Sport, and National Lottery backed, World Class Programme for 2024.
British Triathlon have announced the athletes that have been invited onto the initiative, which aims to provide those with realistic medalwinning capabilities the support they need ahead of the next Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris.
Alison, 36, has been identified as one of 18 para athletes and guides that will be given support.
Alison, who is originally from Dunfermline and now trains in Loughborough, is a visually-impaired athlete competing in the PTVI classification - who first took up the sport in 2013.
Prior to transitioning into para-triathlon, she was crowned as an IBSA (International Blind Sports Federation) 800 metres champion in swimming, and also represented Scotland as a runner.
Alison has gone on to enjoy a successful para-triathlon career following her debut in 2014, earning multiple European and world titles, as well as silver in Rio, alongside her guide, Hazel Smith.
She also competed in the Tokyo Games, held in 2021, finishing in fourth place following a monumental effort that almost saw her catch France’s Annouck Curzillat.
Having had a maternity break from the sport after giving birth to a son this year, she is now on the support programme for 2024.
Mike Cavendish, British Triathlon performance director, commented: “The athletes selected have delivered performances over the last 12-months that confirm their status as some of the best triathletes and Para-triathletes in the world.
“We have a number of familiar faces returning to the programme alongside several new ones.
“It is a really exciting time for all of those selected and I look forward to seeing the progress they make over the next 12 months.”
Alison, who was also selected to represent Team Scotland at last year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, is joined on the programme by another Fife para athlete, Brooke Gillies, who also trains in Loughborough.