Three triathletes carry Olympic Flame in one day
29th June 2012Three inspirational triathletes, the youngest a teenager and the oldest in his seventies, did their sport proud last week (Thursday 21 June) by taking part in the Olympic Torch Relay on its journey around the UK.
Barry Johnson, from Cockermouth in Cumbria, is described in his nomination to be a Torchbearer as, ‘an inspiration to everyone that has met him’. He is not only the personal trainer to Matthew Wilson, Britain’s top rally driver, but also runs fitness classes for all ages and abilities. Barry is a dedicated fundraiser too, and marked his 70th birthday with a 180-mile triathlon visiting every lake in the Lake District, which raised around £10,000.
Barry who is a three-time gold medallist at the European Championships for the GE Great Britain Age-Group Team, also won his age-group at this year’s British Cross Triathlon Championships. Talking after his Torchbearer experience he commented: “It was an experience of a lifetime. I was nervous, excited and overwhelmed. A great privilege!”
The same day saw Stuart Robinson carry the Flame through Keswick. Having set-up a swimming club in his home town of Appleby, Stuart has recently formed a junior triathlon club there too. He is an accomplished triathlete himself who has represented Great Britain internationally at age-group level and has several titles to his name. Stuart also set-up Appleby’s acclaimed mini-triathlon, now held annually.
The youngest of Thursday’s trio was 14 year old, Steph Booth from Windermere, who started swimming aged seven and took part in (and won) her first triathlon aged eight. From the age of nine she has being swimming competitively for Cumbria.
Barry, Stuart and Steph are among over fifty triathletes chosen to be Torchbearers, representing every level of the sport in the UK from volunteers to elite triathletes. Triathlon’s Torchbearers cover an impressive age range, from 12-year-old Grace Jordan to 91-year-old Arthur Gilbert.
An average of 115 Torchbearers per day will carry the Olympic Flame during its 8,000-mile journey around the UK this summer before it arrives at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July. Its journey will take the Flame to within 10 miles of 95% of the UK population.
The triathlon community will also be looking forward to the triathlon events, which are set to be the most memorable of the London 2012 Olympic Games with the women’s race taking place on Saturday 4 August at 9am and the men’s on Tuesday 7 August at 11:30am. Triathlon will be one of the few free-to-view sports during the London 2012 Olympic Games, with much of Hyde Park open and un-ticketed during the events.
Fans can watch the action at a number of iconic London landmarks including the south side of the Serpentine, The Wellington Arch, and Buckingham Palace, as well as plenty of areas within Hyde Park to view the event.