After competing in triathlons for just short of a year, an Oswestry-born fitness enthusiast has taken the top spot at this year’s International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships.
Rebecca Duxbury, formerly a pupil in Marches School, won the event which consisted of long-distance cycling, swimming and a huge 18-mile run.
It has taken Rebecca just 10 months to become world champion, after only starting to compete in triathlons in July 2018.
Despite the 32°C heat, Rebecca was able to overcome tough opposition to achieve the best overall time in the women’s category.
“It was a very difficult race,” she said.
“Despite the heat, the water was freezing during the swim, so it was a lot for the body to take.
“But then being out of the water meant running in really hot weather and biking on what was a really hilly course, which was challenging, but I think it suited me better as I prefer racing on a hilly course as opposed to a flat one.”
Rebecca, who spent a year as a member of Oswestry Tri Club during her time at Marches School, finished with a time of six hours, 36 minutes and 30 seconds.
She took on the race as part of her preparation for an even more difficult challenge later this year - an Iron Man race.
She added: “It was an event I used to build myself up for the Iron Man challenge in September.
“It will be my first ever one and it will be a lot longer.
“Iron Man challenges are very much survival of the fittest - it will consist of 112 miles on a bike, followed by a marathon and a 2.4-mile swim.”
Although she is preparing for a much harder challenge, Rebecca insists she was surprised to chieve the fastest women’s time.
She said: “I didn’t expect to win] it at all.
“It helped to have such fantastic support over there - it was overwhelming.
“I went with my boyfriend and a group of friends and they were all there to cheer me on at the end when I crossed the line.
“It really was great fun.”
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