Centre member Yiannis competed at the 2024 World Triathlon Championships in Torremolinos Spain, entering the 40-44 Male AG Sprint race and the Mixed 40-49 AG Relay.
Despite picking up a cold before he travelled out to Spain, which got worse whilst he was out there, Yiannis woke up Thursday morning feeling much better ahead of the race that day. Yiannis set himself the goal to enjoy the race and not push himself as he wasn’t feeling 100%.
Yiannis started the race with a good swim which got him near the front, but unfortunately he missed the pack on the start of the cycle when coming out of his transition. Yiannis and an Irish athlete worked hard to catch the leading pack but after 3 miles they were still behind and his legs started to struggle. They got caught by the chasing pack who where catching. He tucked in behind them but after another 9 miles, two of them broke away. It then came down to the run where Yiannis got stronger and stronger, overtaking others and beating people he hadn’t beaten before, which he enjoyed. Yiannis finished 13th in his age group and was very pleased with his overall performance.
Yiannis was selected for the GB A Team for the mixed relay World Championships, so he was looking forward to that. However on Friday evening despite his cold going, he started to feel unwell again, which he think’s was due to heat stroke from the day before, so on Saturday he spent most of the time in bed until late afternoon which was when he started to feel better.
The relay started on Sunday and he was 3rd off in the team, when his team mate tagged him, they where neck and neck with the German team for 1st place. The swim was fast and tough due to it being short and before Yiannis knew it he was on the bike for just over 3 miles, the German team pulled away on the bike, as the bike is his weakest area. However, Yiannis started to catch them on the 1 mile run, which felt so tough but the loud crowd helped him. Yiannis really enjoyed it, as it’s not often he gets to be part of a team and in the end they finished 2nd. Yiannis got his first ever World Championship Medal and his was so proud and over the moon, as he never expected it.
Yiannis said “It was a great end to the Triathlon season and I think this season has been just as good as last year with less races. I have come away with a World & European Medal, National Silver medal, British Silver Medal, British Bronze Medal, World Championship Ironman 70.3 place and a Kent Silver running medal. Next year will be different as my priority will change to the new arrivals but my aim is to be in a competitive shape for the Ironman World Championships in November 2025.”