GB PRO KATE WAUGH’S RUN OF SUCCESS THIS LAST SUMMER HAS PROPELLED HER INTO THE LIMELIGHT, BUT WITH ONLY TWO PARIS WOMEN’S SLOTS REMAINING, COULD SHE BE IN CONTENTION? LET’S MEET HER…
WORDS TIM HEMING IMAGES TOMMY ZAFERES/WORLD TRIATHLON
Q&A KATE WAUGH
This time last year, the chances of Gateshead’s Kate Waugh representing Team GB at the Olympic Games in Paris looked a long shot. Waugh was an outstanding prospect; having started the sport aged eight she’d just become the U23 world champion in Abu Dhabi. The problem was that with the greatest depth of talent anywhere in the world, there seemed to be just too many British women in the queue ahead of her for 2024. But after breakthrough performances this summer, Waugh has put herself firmly in contention for one of the two remaining individual spots.
Seventh in the Paris Test Event was followed by a career-high second place at the World Triathlon Grand Final, ending the series ranked sixth, before taking the ultra-competitive Super League crown in October. It’s been a standout run, but the 24-year-old is also no overnight success…
220: How did you get introduced to triathlon?
Kate Waugh:My dad and granddad were super into cycling so I’ve grown up around bikes, I had swimming lessons and was part of a local run club. I also did gymnastics and it was there I saw a local triathlon advertised. I was only seven or eight so we didn’t swim more than about 100m, the bike was less than 1km and the run was about 4-500m. I don’t think I did very well, but I was completely hooked.
220: What would you say are your strengths in the sport?
KW: I don’t have any particular standouts in the sport, but I like to think of myself as a well-rounded athlete. I hope it means that whatever the race scenario, I can be competitive. Whether it’s a super-challenging bike course, a fast bike and pure running race, or whether it’s an ocean or lake swim, I like to think that it doesn’t faze me and I can achieve a solid result.
220: Who do you look up to in tri?
KW: I was only 13 when I watched the Brownlees dominate in 2012. Those two have changed the sport, and it’s inspiring to be on a similar pathway to them. I love the way they raced – hard, honest racing and that’s what I hope to do going forward. I also loved watching Helen [Jenkins]. I never raced her, but we were on a training camp in Portugal and I was watching her do some killer sessions. The first couple of times I raced on the elite circuit I was mesmerised by everyone!
