NEWS

Sue Reynolds set to line up and achieve World Triathlon dream on the Gold Coast

By Courtney Akrigg | 06 Sep, 2018
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Sue Reynolds was unhealthily obese, she was unable to tie her own shoe laces and had no idea about the impact that sport would have on her life.

Now 64 years of age, Sue has lost 90kg of body weight over the past five years.

“In 2012, I was morbidly obese. I couldn’t even tie my own shoes and had no idea that I liked sports.  Over a five-year period, I lost 200 pounds through sound nutrition and exercise, fell in love with triathlon and ended up placing sixth in the draft-legal sprint event at the 2017 ITU World Triathlon Championship in Rotterdam.”

Why triathlon?

“When I first started exercising, triathlon became my secret daydream. However, I never thought I’d actually do one.”

“For my first “workout” I walked to the neighbour’s driveway and back (about 300 meters) and was close to red-lining! I walked a little farther each day until I could walk a 5k without stopping.. Next, I focussed on swimming. I enrolled in a water aerobics class and started swimming a few laps. Finally, I took a spin class and began riding my bike around the neighbourhood.”

“I didn’t know any triathletes and had never been to a triathlon. I found a book called When Big Boys Tri about an overweight man who did sprint triathlons and read it cover to cover. I figured if he did it, I could do it. I registered for my first sprint triathlon. I kept everything a secret. The only one who I was attempting a triathlon was my husband.”

“On the morning of my first triathlon, I was terrified. I had no idea what I was doing. In my first transition, I put on clothes over my bathing suit, brushed my hair and ate a sandwich! I finished dead last, but I felt like I had won the Olympics! I was hooked!”

 

Reynolds is now hooked on the sport and thrives across all disciplines but especially loves the power on the bike.

“I love the bike. There’s just something about riding with the wind in my face that makes me feel like I’m ten years old again. I love powering a finely tuned machine with my muscles and feeling how the bike responds as I corner.  I just love everything about bikes.”

 

The 64-year-old attests that the triathlon community are supportive and have been an influential and inspiring part of her journey to today.

“The triathlon community is truly unique. When I’m in transition before a race with all the other triathletes, I always feel like I’m in the happiest place on earth. I love witnessing how everyone encourages, helps and supports one another. I love how we all celebrate each other’s dreams and accomplishments.”

“The kindness of the triathlon community was immensely helpful as I strived to transform my life.”

“They gave me hope. They kept me going when I started and still keep me going today. I’ve never experienced any community like the triathlon community.”

 

In 2018 Sue Reynolds will once again line up to contest on an honourable world stage, as a team USA representative, at the 2018 World Triathlon Grand Final Gold Coast, to represent Triathlon USA with honour.

“There is no bigger race than the World Championship. I am motivated to reach each of my process goals so I come to Worlds ready to perform on race day.”

“My husband, Brian, will be in Gold Coast to support me before and on race day. My family, friends, and work colleagues will follow my race progress on the internet and cheer from afar.”

“I look forward to being surrounded by people from around the world whose love for triathlon is just like mine.  The experience at Worlds always reminds me that while our countries may be vastly different, in our hearts, we are all pretty much the same. I love seeing AUS, MEX, CAN, GBR and other country codes on triathlete’s uniforms.  I’m touched as people from different countries shout encouragement to me as I run. The kindness found within the triathlon community is worldwide.”

“I am inspired in different ways by different people. The kindness found within the triathlon community is worldwide.”

“Externally, my coach inspires me. When I first started doing triathlon as a morbidly obese person, he saw things in me that I didn’t see in myself and then helped me see those things too. My original goal was to be an alternate for Team USA and Worlds. My coach said, “Let’s not be an alternate. let’s make the team!” I trust his training plan and love the challenge of following the workouts he writes. No excuses, whatever it takes. His belief in me inspires me to reach his expectations.”

“Internally, I’m inspired by curiosity. I see something difficult and wonder if I could do it. I ask myself, “If I work really hard, pay attention to every detail and take no short-cuts, could I do that?”  I am inspired by setting goals, working hard, and seeing progress.,” Reynolds said.

“During races, I am inspired by friends and family members who face physical challenges every day with courage and grace. While I choose to suffer the temporary pain that I feel during a race, they did not choose to endure the constant pain they feel on a daily basis. When I think of the grit they demonstrate on a daily basis, I am inspired to keep going when things get tough during a race.  I write their names on the palm of my hand prior to each race.”
“On race morning, I am always very calm. I figure at this point, the work is done. I know the course. I know my race plan. I am ready.”

“I am living the dream.”

The highly ambitious and motivated triathlete concluded by highlighting these main points as part of her journey to the start line:
1. People can transform your life at any age.
2. People can lose 100+ pounds without surgery or drugs.
3. People can reach big goals by making a series of sound choices or time.
4. Kindness can change a life.
5. Triathlon is for everyone!

It’s time to gear up for World Triathlon action in Queensland, Australia, as triathletes, sports fans and the wider community ride the wave to the World Triathlon Grand Final start line.

TRIATHLON LIVE
AG, Junior, U23, and Para races will be streamed for free to triathlonlive.tv/goldcoast and to the World Triathlon Facebook page.
The Elite races will be streamed to members with a subscription to triathlonlive.tv/live
ITU World Triathlon Series Rankings 2018
ITU World Triathlon Grand Final, Gold Coast, Event Schedule
ITU World Triathlon Grand Final, Gold Coast, Course Maps

ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Gold Coast is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland as part of the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar. Queensland, just the place to experience Australia’s best live events.

 

Related Event: 2018 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Gold Coast
12 - Sep, 2018 • event pageall results
Results: Elite Men
DSQ. Russell White IRL DSQ
DSQ. Alistair Brownlee GBR DSQ
DNF. Felipe Barraza CHI DNF
DNF. Christophe De Keyser BEL DNF
DNF. Rodrigo Gonzalez Lopez MEX DNF
DNF. Makoto Odakura JPN DNF
DNF. Lukas Hollaus AUT DNF
DNF. Ryan Bailie AUS DNF
DNF. Yuichi Hosoda JPN DNF
DNF. Matthew McElroy USA DNF
Results: Elite Women
1. Ashleigh Gentle AUS 01:52:00
2. Vicky Holland GBR 01:52:02
3. Katie Zaferes USA 01:52:33
4. Laura Lindemann GER 01:52:53
5. Kirsten Kasper USA 01:53:15
LAP. Yi Zhang CHN LAP
LAP. Yiming Liu CHN LAP
DNF. Rebecca Spence NZL DNF
DNF. Anna Godoy Contreras ESP DNF
DNF. Alice Betto ITA DNF
Results: U23 Men
LAP. Rafael Domingos POR LAP
LAP. Tsz To Wong HKG LAP
LAP. Yu Hang Kok HKG LAP
LAP. Michael Lam HKG LAP
LAP. Darren Marquiss RSA LAP
LAP. James Tan HKG LAP
LAP. Matthew Greer RSA LAP
DNF. Simon Westermann SUI DNF
DNF. Kyle Smith NZL DNF
DNF. Ondrej Olsar CZE DNF
Results: U23 Women
1. Taylor Knibb USA 01:53:47
2. Cassandre Beaugrand FRA 01:55:22
LAP. Weiyao Guo CHN LAP
LAP. Andreia Ferrum POR LAP
LAP. Klaudia Sebők HUN LAP
LAP. Sara Guerrero Manso ESP LAP
LAP. Iveta Fairaislova CZE LAP
LAP. Gyuri Kim KOR LAP
DNF. Fuka Sega JPN DNF
DNF. Shanae Williams RSA DNF
Results: Junior Men
1. Csongor Lehmann HUN 00:52:49
2. Paul Georgenthum FRA 00:53:12
3. Philipp Wiewald GER 00:53:14
4. Boris Pierre FRA 00:53:20
DNS. Tim Hellwig GER DNS
LAP. Rhys Cheer FIJ LAP
LAP. Seth James PNG LAP
DNF. Levente Karai HUN DNF
DNF. Romaric Forques ESP DNF
DNF. Grigory Antipov RUS DNF
Results: Junior Women
1. Cecilia Sayuri Ramirez Alavez MEX 00:59:11
2. Erin Wallace GBR 00:59:23
3. Kate Waugh GBR 00:59:34
4. Pauline Landron FRA 00:59:46
5. Romy Wolstencroft AUS 00:59:51
6. Magdalena Früh AUT 01:00:03
7. Jessica Fullagar FRA 01:00:08
8. Desirae Ridenour CAN 01:00:10
9. Quinty Schoens NED 01:00:12
DNS. Selina Klamt GER DNS
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