ONE TO WATCH Will Clarke, European and World U23 Triathlon Champion
Have you heard of that young triathlete who somersaults across finishing lines, and happens to be U23 European and World Champion? No? Well, let me introduce you to 21-year-old Will Clarke, who, in September, somersaulted his way to victory in the U23 World Championships in Lausanne.
If triathlon is the UK’s fastest growing sport, then Will is the perfect guy to promote it: tall, physically lean – each groove and sinew of his rippling body formed through hours of daily practice for years – with tousled blond locks, and a beaming, ready smile. Further, he is intelligent, media trained, forthcoming, and – most importantly – successful.
And he’s gallingly successful. He is one of those annoying people who have always been good at whatever they have turned their hand to. A highly competent swimmer by eight, and a competitive distance runner at 12, Will was advised by his French teacher to attend a talent identification day in Loughborough when he was 16.
‘Mercy monsieur’, he might have said as breezed through the competition, and gained a coveted place on the World Class Start programme. It was through this scheme that Cambridgshire-born Will first became acquainted with triathlon, and immediately he was provided with a top coach. ‘I gained a lot of fitness when I got a coach, and ever since then I really improved. I have been improving a lot every year’, Will says, with belief but not boast.
Having swum and run for years, did he find the cycling discipline hard? ‘No, not really. Cycling came quite naturally to me’, he chirps. Indeed at the recent World Championships, it was his powerful cycling leg that gifted Will an unassailable lead. With just the running stage to go – his strongest suit – Will had gained a massive minute-and-a-half advantage.
‘I had a bit of time to burn; time to celebrate, and I could enjoy the finish’, he says. But seriously, somersaulting? ‘The somersault thing is something I do a lot, because the crowd love it’, a huge grin breaks through, almost bashfully.
Will knows what is needed to win, knows how to please the crowd, and is destined for success. He concludes his studies (sports science with management) at Loughborough University – which is also home to the elite British triathletes’ training centre – next June, having taken half a year off for this important triathlon season.
After he graduates Will plans to move up to the senior level, leaving the U23 category – which he has dominated – behind, and push for a place in the British team at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. ‘It’ll be nice to have Bejing as a practice run, but I am more than likely to do better in London 2012’, he says. ‘I’ll be a bit older, wiser, stronger.’
He will be 27 then, and hopefully at the peak of his powers. If he continues to improve, there is no reason why he cannot win the gold medal for Britain in 2012. You never know, he may still be somersaulting to victory.
Have you heard of that young triathlete who somersaults across finishing lines, and happens to be U23 European and World Champion? No? Well, let me introduce you to 21-year-old Will Clarke, who, in September, somersaulted his way to victory in the U23 World Championships in Lausanne.
If triathlon is the UK’s fastest growing sport, then Will is the perfect guy to promote it: tall, physically lean – each groove and sinew of his rippling body formed through hours of daily practice for years – with tousled blond locks, and a beaming, ready smile. Further, he is intelligent, media trained, forthcoming, and – most importantly – successful.And he’s gallingly successful. He is one of those annoying people who have always been good at whatever they have turned their hand to. A highly competent swimmer by eight, and a competitive distance runner at 12, Will was advised by his French teacher to attend a talent identification day in Loughborough when he was 16.
‘Mercy monsieur’, he might have said as breezed through the competition, and gained a coveted place on the World Class Start programme. It was through this scheme that Cambridgshire-born Will first became acquainted with triathlon, and immediately he was provided with a top coach. ‘I gained a lot of fitness when I got a coach, and ever since then I really improved. I have been improving a lot every year’, Will says, with belief but not boast.
Having swum and run for years, did he find the cycling discipline hard? ‘No, not really. Cycling came quite naturally to me’, he chirps. Indeed at the recent World Championships, it was his powerful cycling leg that gifted Will an unassailable lead. With just the running stage to go – his strongest suit – Will had gained a massive minute-and-a-half advantage.
‘I had a bit of time to burn; time to celebrate, and I could enjoy the finish’, he says. But seriously, somersaulting? ‘The somersault thing is something I do a lot, because the crowd love it’, a huge grin breaks through, almost bashfully.
Will knows what is needed to win, knows how to please the crowd, and is destined for success. He concludes his studies (sports science with management) at Loughborough University – which is also home to the elite British triathletes’ training centre – next June, having taken half a year off for this important triathlon season.
After he graduates Will plans to move up to the senior level, leaving the U23 category – which he has dominated – behind, and push for a place in the British team at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. ‘It’ll be nice to have Bejing as a practice run, but I am more than likely to do better in London 2012’, he says. ‘I’ll be a bit older, wiser, stronger.’
He will be 27 then, and hopefully at the peak of his powers. If he continues to improve, there is no reason why he cannot win the gold medal for Britain in 2012. You never know, he may still be somersaulting to victory.
Labels: Triathlon, Will Clarke
