Paratriathletes press conference highlights #WTSYokohama

by Andrew Dewhurst on 12 May, 2016 06:51 • Español

Leading paratriathletes gathered to share their thoughts ahead of their race in Yokohama this weekend. Here are the highlights from that press conference.

Stefan Daniel CAN PT4
Stefan has already qualified for Rio with win at the 2015 ITU Paratriathlon World Championships in Chicago.

How are you feeling ahead of the race and what are your goals for the race in Yokohama?

“I had a great year last year and won some big races, but this year with Rio coming up everyone is going to be super motivated and aiming for a great race. Training is going well, I moved from my home to to Western Canada to train with some of the top triathletes, everything is going well. I need to stay consistent and of course to stay healthy. I am in good shape now and want a good race across all three areas with my swim a big focus, the goal is to maintain this form and aim for a good race in Rio. If I want to have success there I have to continue to train hard and do well in these sorts of races.”

Only three years in the sport, what is the secret for you?

“I started as a swimmer at 8 years old and did that for a while until 2013, I also did running, track at high school and still do cross country running, I love that as much as Tri and it helps my running base each season. Having that background meant it wasn’t much of a shift to triathlon, I have always ridden a bike - I didn’t take it too seriously but then heard the announcement and the chance to go to the Rio Olympics in triathlon and decided to give it a real go.”

On his impressions of Japan

“This is my first time here and I have only been in the city for a couple of days. The course looks beautiful and fast, I am excited but for now focused on my preparation and then I will take a chance to look at the city afterwards and do some exploring, but for now the focus is on the race.”

Allysa Seely USA PT2
Allysa is another athlete already qualified for Rio.

How are you feeling ahead of the race and what are your goals for the race in Yokohama?

“My offseason has seen me focus on improving my weakness and maintain my strength. I have been working on my swim and my goal in Yokohama is a strong swim and to come out in front or near the front of the group. Leading to Rio my aim is to get better in all three events and hopefully be on top of the podium there.”

You have been competing for many years, what is the attraction in triathlon for you?

“I began in sport as a runner, I got a little bored with that so I turned to triathlon. What keeps me going is I get to change up my training every day, I don’t swim two or three times a day, I get to swim, bike and run throughout the week, putting them all together is a challenge, the swim affects your bike which affects your run, the puzzle is pulling it all together, that is the challenge that keeps me coming back.”

On Japanese opponent Yukako Hata and her impressions of Japan

“I have had the pleasure of racing with her a few times, she is a very strong swimmer so will push in the water, I have not had much interaction with her outside of racing, when I have she is very pleasant and I look forward to racing with her tomorrow.

“This is my second time in Yokohama, I enjoy the city very much. This morning I had a great run through the gardens, it is a beautifully kept clean city and the people are always friendly, I always look forward to returning here and having a great time.”

Keiichi Sato JPN PT4
Winner of the Asian PT4 category at Hiroshima and aiming for a place in Rio, must finish top three to gain selection

How are you feeling ahead of the race and what are your goals for the race in Yokohama?

“My condition is superb, since the end of April I was in Australia for the Championships and then went to the Asian Championship event in Hiroshima. I have since trained with the national team and trained hard, I returned to my hometown and trained with my training partners and have rested quite a bit so I will be fully prepared for this Yokohama Triathlon.

“For 1016 Yokohama my goal is to compete well with Mr Daniel who is ranked number one. I would like to see the degree to which the gap between world class level and my own current level, I would like to know and confirm if my training programmes are sufficient enough to narrow that gap that might exist between what I might do today and the higher level. My goal is to be ranked in the top 3, at least the number 3 on the podium, last year I was 4th and if do not attain 3rd, then I will not be able to progress to the Rio Olympics, therefore my goal is to be number three at least.”

Have you competed at a Paralympics before?

Before I started triathlon, I competed in cross country skiing and biathlon, so I competed at both the Vancouver and Sochi Winter Paralympics.

On balancing the two very different sports?

“I have been trying to balance out the sports, in cross country skiing much more muscle strength is required, but for triathlon a little less so – in winter time I can train for cross country skiing then when I transition to triathlon my muscles have been built up for that time. But going the reverse back to cross country skiing the muscles strength has become lax, therefore you have to build up once again to compete in skiing. This is a challenge but one I enjoy enormously, I have balanced the two sports to challenge myself to participate in both winter and summer Paralympics.

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