Triathletes within our Family
As you all know, ITU is not only about Elite races, there’s also plenty of opportunities for the not so talented ones within the triathlon family to shine in multiple events, dedicated around the world to our Age Groupers. And among those who love to compete in our Age Group events, we sure can find plenty of “family members”. Let’s see in every Newsletter what one of those stakeholders thinks about ITU events… First one in our series is Matthew Clarke, Managing Director of SEL.
Tell us a little about yourself?
Born in London, raised in Australia, fortunate to live in many cities. I love sport, I love to participate in sport, I love to study sport , and I love to work in sport. I am fortunate to have a very active family – a triathlete wife and 4 daughters all active in the pool or running who keep me motivated. My highlight was to work in and around the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games for seven (7) years, and then on all the Olympic since then in an operational capacity
You’re an active triathlete. Tell us about your 2017 World Triathlon event experience(s)?
I had a solid year in 2016 competing in 4 x 70.3 and then Nice Ironman in June. I then took it easy in 2017 with only a few races this year. But two races I did were the ITU Hamburg and Stockholm age group WTS events which were simply amazing. It really gave me the inspiration to have an improved plan for 2018.
How has your experience been working with the ITU team?
I love the power of sport, it has this ability to reach all corners of the globe and get people from all walks of life participating. Triathlon is one of these sports that seems to get everyone going. The elite athletes are something to behold, their training regimes, their nutrition plans and their desire to compete are impressive to say the least and then when you see 10.000 + athletes compete in Hamburg, with over 100,000 spectators in the heart of the city, it cant get much better than that so as I said race day, hats off to the ITU, the Organisers keep it going and I am more than glad that I and SEL, and part of the development of Triathlon.
What are your 2018 triathlon race plans?
I am looking to have a more disciplined training program and then race in 3 x Olympic distance, 3 x 70.3 and 1x Ironman (full). I will get more into my nutrition plan, a solid winter training program and ready for some good racing from April onwards |