Loughborough College triathlete George Peasgood has been selected to compete in this summer’s Rio Paralympics – when the squad will make history as the sport debuts at the Games.
The youngest paratriathlon medallist ever at 17, the Loughborough College Sport student is now 20 and is the current British Paratriathlon PT4 champion.
George has a lower leg impairment following a traumatic injury to his left leg and ankle when he was two and a half years old. Following several reconstructive surgeries he got into triathlon in 2009. In 2013 he took the youngest ever paratriathlon medal winner record when he won his first major medal, a bronze at the ITU World Championships in London.
Elder brother Jack, who has represented the Great Britain Age Group team at both triathlon and duathlon, will be travelling with the Great Britain Paratriathlon Squad to Rio, as part of the support crew.
George’s mum has completed ten consecutive London Marathons and his dad got into triathlon following a running injury. Both parents have completed Ironman triathlons.
Nine Loughborough based para-triathletes have been selected by ParalympicsGB to compete at the Rio 2016 Games.
Jonathon Riall, Team Leader and Head Coach for Para-triathlon, said: “The last few years have been a race to qualify slots and to ensure that we are ready to take on anything that the rest of the world throws at us in competition. Standards are rising quickly in this sport because it is so new.
“I believe we have selected the best possible British team, which has the potential to win medals and make its mark as para-triathlon debuts at the Paralympic Games. I am looking forward to seeing them take to the biggest stage in disability sport.”