TEACHER and world class para-triathlete Mike Salisbury will defend his British title in Sunderland this weekend when the city hosts one of the biggest sporting events in the triathlon calendar.
The fulltime geography teacher at Dame Allan’s Schools has been training along Roker seafront in preparation for the British Triathlon Super Series Grand Final, which is being staged there for the first time on Saturday and Sunday.
Mr Salisbury, who was born with a congenital shortening of the left arm and is ranked 2nd in the UK and 19th in the world in triathlon’s PTS5 classification, won gold at last year’s Grand Final, held at Mallory Park, Leicestershire, in September.
The athlete, who lives in Newcastle and has competed on the world para-triathlon circuit for two years, said: “This is a big event for me, not least because I’m defending my British title, but because I can do so in my home region with a local crowd cheering me on.
“I’d love to see some familiar faces from Dame Allan’s at the event, and I would encourage pupils and their families to come along and enjoy a really spectacular weekend of sport, involving some of the finest athletes in the UK.”
Mr Salisbury celebrated gold medal success at the British Paratriathlon Championship, at Eton Dorney, Buckinghamshire, in July. He also represented Great Britain at the World Triathlon Para Series in Swansea earlier this month, where he finished 9th, with the second fastest run time in his category. He also placed 9th in an earlier Para Series event in Montreal, Canada.
This weekend’s Grand Final, at the end of the triathlon season, will bring together top UK athletes from the youth and junior, senior and Paratri British Triathlon Super Series to compete along the seafront of Sunderland.
Mr Salisbury, Dame Allan’s Assistant Head of Sixth Form, is due to compete on Saturday morning. He said his involvement in the sport has helped inspire pupils at the school: “Being a para-athlete and competing at an elite level is an incredible experience that presents so many opportunities to travel to interesting places around the world and meet other athletes that are at the top of their game,” he said. “I love sharing those experiences with pupils and encouraging them to participate in sport, both at school and in later life, because it can be so rewarding and enjoyable.”