Foreign competition makes local triathletes better

By most accounts, triathlon is one of the fastest growing sports across the globe. Its dynamic mixture of running, swimming and cycling makes it an attractive proposition for anyone looking for a true challenge.

This certainly is the case in Britain, where the likes of Andrew Johns and Jodie Swallow - among the favourites for an Olympic gold next year - has helped raise the profile of triathlon even further.

And the increase in those taking up the sport has been supplemented by the emergence of several promising talents who appear destined for more similar success.

Further evidence of this potential came in the recent ITU World Duathlon Age Group Championships in Switzerland where the British team managed 18 medals.

One of the honours - a silver in the women's 25-29 - was claimed by Stephanie Maclean. Talking just days after her success, Maclean was still overjoyed by her performance.

"I was very pleased," she said.

"It was a good experience and getting that result made it even better. I'm very satisfied."

Stephen Bayliss was equally happy of his success. Last May, he further underlined Britain's status in the sport by winning the World U-24 Long Course Triathlon.

"I was surprised, really," he said. "It was the first time that I had taken part in a long distance event and to win was special."

He admits that given this result he is likely to focus more on long course races.

"I think my build makes me better over long distances," he reckoned. "I'm quite lean and that means that over the normal distances I could struggle against bigger competitors. However, to do well in long distances you have to be leaner and I think that I'm better suited for that."

In long distance triathlons, one has a 4K swim, a 120K cycle and a 30K run as opposed to an Olympic distance event where they have to cover 1.5K in the swim, 40K on the bike and a 10K run.

Winning the U-24 championships has certainly had a positive effect on his career. He said: "Sponsorshipwise, it has been great. It allowed me to make a number of contacts and I will also be getting some coaching whereas before I had to practise by myself. There are no financial rewards as yet, but it is a definite step forward."

Finding the money needed to take up a professional career in sport seems to be a problem wherever you go.

Despite their status both Stephanie and Stephen have to hold full-time jobs, much like their Maltese counterparts.

"It is tiring," says Bayliss.

"Mentally more than physically. Knowing that you've got to train after a day's work is tiring."

Yet, financially, triathlon in Britain has never had it better. Both athletes are quick to acknowledge that the money coming from the national lottery is doing a lot of good for the sport.

Although, as yet, he hasn't benefited directly, Stephen is enthusiastic about the situation.

"There isn't a lot of money in the age groups, but the national teams do get sponsorship which means that there is a bigger incentive," he said.

Stephanie agrees. "There is a lot of money going into developing triathlon as a sport. They're investing in teaching kids in schools about triathlon and that really helps a lot. They're doing a lot of good with it."

Red Bull Olympic Triathlon

The two athletes were in Malta last week after a twinning agreement, between Birkirkara St Joseph and Thames Turbo Triathlon Club, meant that the London-based club's top two athletes would take part in the Red Bull Olympic Triathlon at the Salina Coast Road. Both won their category, yet remained favourably impressed by the local set-up.

They feel that Malta's size shouldn't hinder the development of good triathletes. Indeed, Stephanie's assessment of the situation was particularly inspired.

"I would think that the biggest problem is the lack of competition," she said. "In England there is such a large pool of athletes that you will always have to push yourself to get a good result. I wouldn't imagine that the situation is the same over here."

It is a view shared by our top triathletes and, as if to underline this fact, at Salina, our women's champion Maria Mifsud Bonnici managed to record her best time in Malta when coming second.

There was a similar result in the male event where, pushed on by the performance of Bayliss, David Galea almost managed to go beneath the two-hour mark.

Whereas for both British athletes it was the perfect end to the season, for the Maltese it was an ideal opportunity to experience the kind of competition that is usually missing, with the results confirming that the presence of foreigners is vital for our triathletes to improve their standards.