Iron lady Vicky Carpenter has proven once again she is as tough as they come after tackling the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Austria.
This is an achievement the 63-year-old schoolteacher says she never would have dreamed of tackling, let alone achieving, a few years ago, yet now she is in the top 20 in the world in her category after a supreme effort at the event in Zell Am See.
Mrs Carpenter, as she is known to her pupils at Thurlestone All Saints Primary School, has been steadily improving at triathlon over the past few years, having taken up the sport to keep fit and healthy at the age of 57.
She has been doing so well, in fact, that she was asked to represent Great Britain in the European Championships in Rimini, Italy, earlier this year.
Surpassing all expectations, she stood proud on the podium with a bronze medal to add to her already vast collection of trophies.
After success on the European circuit, there was only one obvious challenge remaining; World Championship qualification. With events running out and only one place available in her age group, Vicky simply had to win in Haugesund, Norway, to stand a chance of qualifying.
Vicky’s triathlon coach is record-breaker Jason McKinlay, who two years ago set a world record after spending 41 days rowing 2,000 miles non-stop and unsupported around Britain with friend Josh Tarr.
He said: ‘There was a lot riding on the event in Norway but Vicky had been very determined to give it her best shot. As her coach, it was important to me to make sure everything was set up to exceed expectation and give Vicky every chance of achieving this dream. Being so attentive to training overload, Vicky trains in exactly the same way as any elite athlete. A program is written to make marginal gains over long periods of time.
‘She’s an incredible and dedicated athlete; a pleasure to work with.’
Vicky went on to win in Haugesund and accepted her place on the start line at the World Championships in Austria.
Her training increased, her motivation increased and in late summer Vicky was stood on the start line of her first-ever World Championships race.
She began with a personal best for the 1.9km swim for a great start. The technical 90km bike course proved no match for the training either and Vicky started the half marathon in 22nd position. Slowly Vicky began to reel in athlete after athlete completing the run in a stunning time to cross the line 19th in the Vicky herself said: ‘This race ranks top of all my events. I felt extremely nervous with the enormity of it all but hugely honoured so I was extremely determined to do my very best and enjoy it safe in the knowledge I was very well prepared.
‘Scorching in the mid-30s waiting for the start, I couldn’t quite believe I was there. I was competing on the world stage in a fabulous “Sound of Music” backdrop alongside the world’s top triathletes! The heat and a long killer hill tested all our endurance, but my carefully designed training and experience carried me along and I finished feeling strong, well and very much alive.
The enormity of my selection for the GB team and racing in Europe this year, then qualifying for and racing in this world event, saw me crossing this line thrilled and elated and extremely pleased with myself. I thank my lucky stars daily for the opportunity, for good health and for everyone who has supported me along the way.’
More than 1,300 (female 60-64) age group athletes began the 2014-2015 season with hopes of making the World Championships in half-distance Ironman events around the planet. Vicky Carpenter, your local schoolteacher, beat all but 18 of them to become the pride of the South Hams.
A truly magnificent achievement, proving many things, but most of all that age is no barrier to living your dreams.