The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Peasgood on track for medal run at Games and world para series
Paratriathlete and avid baker Alison Peasgood is hoping to fly full steam ahead into a summer of paratriathlon action.
Peasgood, 34, scooped silver at the Paralympics nearly six years ago but missed out on another medal in the delayed Tokyo Games last year after finishing fourth before securing bronze at the Paratriathlon World Championships.
And after breaking new ground with her favourite hobby by making doughnuts from scratch for the first time, Peasgood is also set to forge a new path in the water, on the bike and on the road.
She is aiming to land a medal when representing Team Scotland for the first time at the Commonwealth Games with her visually impaired classification the sole paratriathlon category included for Birmingham 2022.
“To get a medal at a major Games is always special and for me, it’s been a pretty hard time since Rio,” said Peasgood.
“From 2019 onwards, I’ve had a few injuries, setbacks, and illnesses. So, to finally put a good race together, I’ll be happy with that.
“It’s being the best prepared and feeling like I’ve done myself justice and if I can do that then there’s a good chance of that gold medal. But I’ll be happier with just putting a race together that I’m proud of.”
The Dunfermline dynamo may be venturing south of the border in July but she does not think that will impact the level of vocal support on offer in the Midlands.
Peasgood added: “It will still be a home Games so the fact my family can actually come and see me is pretty cool.
“I think the support will be crazy in Birmingham because the crowds we had at Leeds for the World Series race last year was fantastic.”
Following shortly on from the Commonwealth Games is Britain’s first standalone World Triathlon Para Series event in Swansea in August, where Peasgood is expecting an even sterner test.
But having finished last year with a bang, claiming bronze at the World Triathlon Para Championships in Abu Dhabi in November, Peasgood has enjoyed a solid winter, staying injury free and appointing husband Jack as her coach while training with two guides – Hazel Macleod and Brooke Gillies.
Swim, bike, run in Britain will have a 2022 to remember with the AJ Bell 2022 World Triathlon Championship Series Leeds on June 11-12, triathlon and paratriathlon at Birmingham Commonwealth Games on July 29 and 31, and Volvo 2022 World Triathlon Para Series Swansea on August 6.
Visit www. britishtriathlon.org/ events/major-events