Compiled by Regina wambui
in summary,
*Triathlon is an endurance multi-sport that involves; swimming, cycling, and running over various distances.
*Triathlon is an expensive sport to partake in terms of the equipment needed for training and at the same time, the diet that one has to be observed in order to succeed in the game.
*Physiotherapy is also one of the aspects needed for one to do well in triathlon. As a triathlete, you have to be observed by a physiotherapist at least once or twice a month.
It takes the heart of a lion for the lovers of such a sport to make it in life.”
These are the words of a Mombasa-born and based triathlon lover, Vivian Hillier.Despite having the zeal and determination to succeed in triathlon, the 16-year-old triathlete has been going through numerous challenges that have left her missing out on both local and important international competitions.
Triathlon is an endurance multi-sport that involves; swimming, cycling, and running over various distances. Athletes compete for the fastest overall completion time, racing each segment sequentially with the time transitioning between the disciplines included.
During an interview with Coast Business, Ms Vivian said most Kenyan triathletes are left at their own mercy instead of being sponsored in training and ensuring they participate in various competitions organized in the country and worldwide.
Triathlon is an expensive sport to partake in terms of the equipment needed for training and at the same time, the diet that one has to observe in order to succeed in the game.
Physiotherapy is also one of the aspects needed for one to do well in triathlon. As a triathlete, you have to be observed by a physiotherapist at least once or twice a month.
Ms Vivian reveals that most triathlon lovers, including herself, have to sponsor themselves in the training, and physiotherapy sessions, and even maneuver themselves on paying for registration fees in order to become members of the Kenya Triathlon Federation (KTF).
She describes the journey of a triathlete in Kenya as a difficult and costly affair.
The triathlete lover says it is more challenging especially if you are a student, bearing in mind that she has to balance between school life and training.
Her day always starts by waking up at 3.30 am, doing her studies and assignments before heading to school in the morning.She comes back home in the evening at around 3 pm.
After completing her homework,she embarks on training, possibly from around 5 pm.
She does swimming and cycling thrice a week. She does her run at least twice a week.
She trains herself on matters of running (sprinting) and cycling since she does not have a coach.
She is, however, fortunate in swimming since she does it through the assistance of Bandari Swimming Club under Coach Fakhry Mansoor.The Coach is currently the Kenyan international swimming coach who has been to various international events including the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth games.
feeding of a triathlete
Ms Vivian notes that diet is also a crucial aspect of triathlon as one needs to eat well, particularly carbohydrates from natural sources(which ensures the muscles receive adequate amount of energy as triathlon is an endurance sport),consume enough proteins, and drink enough fluids.
“All these are not provided and many sponsors have shied away from assisting us.
Her Highlights
The young triathlete, however, remembers good moments when she; qualified for the All African Games in Rabat Morocco at only age 13(although wasn’t able to attend as she was in Tanzania competing in swimming and there was lack of proper communication from the Federation at the time).
She represented Kenya in Egypt in June 2021 for her very first international triathlon competition (where she was able to make a personal best time of 1 hour 16 minutes), part of the team that went to Windhoek, Namibia for a
championship, qualified for the most recent games which was the Commonwealth games amongst many other local events.
The one-week event in Egypt, which had several categories, was held in Sharm El-Sheikh city. “Despite it being my very first competition and facing a few challenges with my bike, I am proud and happy to have made a PB,” she says.
During the event, Kenya faced stiff competition from the host Egypt, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
‘Before I went to Egypt, the Kenyan team had been training at Turtle Bay Beach Resort in Watamu.’
Sponsorship opportunities
As Kenya braces up to host the 2022 Africa Triathlon Championships to be held in Kilifi County starting November 26th , Ms. Vivian has one appeal.That the government and well wishers intervene and sponsor financially unstable triathlon lovers like herself to enable them to do well in the game.
The sport hasn’t really been publicized by the state. Kenya has always concentrated much on normal sports such as; athletics, football, volleyball, and rugby but not triathlon. We have to do it by ourselves which is a great challenge to upcoming triathletes like me,” says Ms Vivian.
“I was supposed to attend the Birmingham Commonwealth Games after undergoing vigorous training and being selected to attend training at Kasarani Sports complex.Unfortunately, I missed the chance since the government reduced the number of slots, leaving most of us behind,” said Ms Vivian.
Ms. Vivian also stresses on the need for the government and well wishers, including the various companies and corporates in the country and worldwide to embrace the triathlon sport more so in developing countries such as Kenya.
“If fully embraced, triathlon sport can be a good tourist attraction venture, especially here at the Coast and Kenya as a whole,” said Ms. Vivian.
Last month, the National Olympic Committee Of Kenya (NOCK) committed 927,000 ksh in sponsorship towards the Kilifi event.
A total of at least nine countries have so far confirmed participation in the Championship, with hosts Kenya set to field over 25 triathletes, in the competition that has been organized in partnership with the Kenyan Triathlon federation, World Triathlon Federation, African Triathlon Federation, and NOC-K.
This is the first time Kenya will be hosting the African Cup and the Kenya Triathlon Federation is using it strategically to assist more Kenyan athletes to get exposure to international standards competition.
They will also earn points which will help them improve their world rankings that count in their qualification pathway to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
