A woman from Blackwood has qualified to represent Team GB in the triathlon World Championships in London next month.
Leigh Jenkins, 22, from Blackwood, will compete in the 20 to 24 age group World Championships.
More than 40 countries and 5,000 of the world’s best international age group amateur athletes will be competing to become world champions in their respective five-year age groups.
Leigh said: “When I found out, I was walking up Cwmcarn Forest Drive with my mum and got an email through, it was amazing.
“I’m nervous and excited to be honest. I’m more nervous about the swimming because it’s my weaker part, but I love cycling and running so it will give me something to look forward to during the swimming I guess.”
As well as studying away from home for a dietetics degree in Chester University, she also has a part-time job in a fudge shop, which has helped her to stay self-sufficient financially, along with a little help from her parents.
She said: “Being at uni and training is fine. You can fit it around what you’re doing and it’s more flexible than you think.
“If I know I have a gap in studying I can train, and vice versa. I basically procrastinate from uni work by training, instead of watching telly or something.
“Working in a fudge shop is a little ironic considering my degree I guess.”
The race that got Leigh the spot took place in Liverpool on Saturday July 13.
She said: “There’s a lot of training involved. I do about ten to 15 hours a week, so I’m always busy. Along with the different disciplines of swimming, cycling, and running I have to do a lot of gym work as well.
“Studying as a dietician has been really helpful because it’s so important to eat well when training. You see a lot of people that are doing well but are dragged down by a rubbish diet.”
This year the World Championships will be held in London, whereas in previous years it has been less accessible.
Leigh said: “When it’s been held in New Zealand and Turkey they’ve been too hard to get to, so it’s nice to be able to compete in London.
“It’s still been difficult because it is quite expensive, there’s a lot of kit that you need and a bit of travelling. But it is possible to do it cheaply as well.
“You need to think about the price of the bike, the wetsuit, the shoes and everything that goes with being a triathlete.”
“I hated sports when I was in school. I only got into it when I moved to uni as rowing is really big in Chester, so I got into it up there. I took a six week course and learnt there, which was really fun.
“I asked for a bike for my birthday because I thought it would complement the rowing, and then ended up just using the bike more than rowing and it all came from there. I haven’t been injured yet, touch wood, just little things here and there, nothing serious.”
“You can hold up a job as a student, and still compete. I did rowing first at uni and found that you start to make sacrifices.
“Instead of going out drinking you plan ahead for when you have training.”