Loughborough College’s George Peasgood is set to make his Paralympic Games debut as the youngest member of the GB triathlon team.
The 20 year old will be competing across swimming, cycling and running in a historic year when the sport also makes its Paralympic debut in Rio.
George took the youngest ever paratriathlon medal winner record when he won bronze at the ITU World Championships in London when he was 17 and is the current British Paratriathlon PT4 champion.
“I’ve never wanted to say, What if… I’ve taken every opportunity I’ve had to go out and do something, really make a difference and try to inspire people – which I never really thought I’d be able to do.
“But people have told me I’ve been an inspiration, so that’s kind of special.”
After a traumatic injury to his left leg and ankle when he was two and a half years old, George underwent several reconstructive surgeries during his childhood. He got into triathlon in 2009 and was classified as a para-triathlete in 2011.
“If there’s anything that you want to do, just go out and do it. The Paralympics from London really inspired me to put myself on the same sort of level as able-bodied people. I live and train with the able-bodied squads in Loughborough and there isn’t really a reason why I can’t do that – and there shouldn’t be.”
George’s 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.