Tetbury athlete taking on the world (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Tetbury athlete taking on the world

7:00am Thursday 22nd October 2009

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A TRIATHLETE from Tetbury is considering turning professional at the age of 35 after some impressive performances in prestigious events around the world, writes Rob Iles.

Lisa Greenfield has been competing in triathlon events for only the last three years and was the first non-professional home at the inaugural Challenge Barcelona recently.

She finished in ten hours, 13 minutes in the ironman-distance race for 13th place overall, beating four professional athletes, including favourite Katja Schumacher, and won the 35-39 age category.

Greenfield, who moved to Tetbury five years ago, has won the City of Bath Triathlon and finished fourth in her category at the World Championships in the Gold Coast, Australia this year. She also took bronze medals at the World and European Championships in Canada and Portugal respectively in 2008.

After suffering an injury while training for the London Marathon three years ago, Greenfield started swimming and cycling, and qualified for the Duathlon World Championships in Goyr, Hungary, where she finished fourth in her age group.

She joined Bristol and District Triathlon Club in April and the positive feedback she has received has made her consider going professional - and starting to compete for prize money.

"People in the club think I've got a good chance to race professionally," said Greenfield. "I've got to take more advice to look into it further.

"Initially, I could apply for a professional licence and, depending on how well I do, look into getting a professional coach and support from a bike team.

"In Barcelona, my bike time wasn't far off the person who won it. In triathlon, the bike is where you can win and lose the race, the rest you can train for."

Greenfield is inspired by ironman-distance triathlon world record holder Chrissie Wellington, who won the World Championship less than a year after going professional at the age of 30.

She said: "I'm not trying to compare myself to her but she was doing it for fun and she is the perfect example that it is possible, especially in long distance events where it's a mental battle as well as physical."

"I'd like to regularly compete at a high level. I'm interested to see, with the correct backing and training, what I'm capable of."

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