A strong thread of motivation connects the women’s triathlon community around the world. The World Triathlon and the ITU Women’s Committee introduces these inspiring women, each with a unique journey through the sport of triathlon and various approaches to training during the month of May, while staying motivated and active at home. Hear from the women and watch their training videos while training at home.
“It’s encouraging to see so many women in triathlon around the world, connecting and motivating each other during this time. I hope this continues to evolve, even when the racing season restarts. I continue to support and engage with the great efforts of the ITU Women’s Committee to drive initiatives like this,” said World Triathlon President and IOC member Marisol Casado.
Basmla Elsalamoney (Egypt)
Basmla Elsalamoney, 21-years of age and the winner of the 2019 African Games (Elite women). Basmla was born in Gharbeya (Egypt) and like most young Egyptians, started out with swimming as a sport. Basmla won her first ever national medal in swimming at the age of 11-years and spent more than 6-years competing at the top level in swimming. Basmla took part in more than 200 swimming races and earned 50 medals. In
In 2016, Basmla made the switch from swimming to triathlon. After two months Basmla won the 2016 Sharm El-Shiekh Triathlon Pan Arab Championship (junior women’s title) and one week later was awarded the 2016 ATU Aquathlon African Championship title.
Basmla represented Egypt at the 2019 African Games held in Rabat, Morocco and she won the women’s event, where she also claimed the bronze medal in the triathlon mixed relay event.
In 2019 Basmla competed in her first ITU World Cup in Weihai, China.
Hear from Basmla on her pre-race expectations, as she lined up as a member of the ASICS World Triathlon team.
“It’s all about adaptation.”
Basmla is a part of the ASICS World Triathlon Team, she was recently selected for the ITU Scholarship where trained at Alicante University under the direction of Roberto Cejuela and just returned one day before it was the lockdown in Spain, since she has been back, she trains with the national team and follow the guidance of the technical director of the Egyptian national team Ahmed Salama.
It is now the holy month of Ramadan for the Muslims, a month when all the Muslims are fasting for around 29-30 days for 17 hours per day. As a Muslim it’s hard to skip this fasting, only for some few reasons you can, but normally you cannot, people around the world usually wonder how it could be for the athletes, how they train and what they do during this month, so we have selected one of the youngest triathletes in Egypt to share reflections on her daily routine and how she trains during this month.
“It’s important to keep yourself active and keep your training, you cannot break your season.”
Basmla and her coach have found methods to maintain training during this month, “it’s all about adaptation” her coach said. Basmla tells us how she trains in Ramadan.
Read more about Basmla Elsalamoney’s inspiring story.
Najlaa Aljrewi (Kuwait)
Najlaa Aljrewi from the Kuwait National Triathlon Team has represented her country at the Bahrain ASTC Triathlon West Asian Championships, ITU World Triathlon Grand Final (AG) and the 2018 Palembang Asian Games.
Najlaa Aljrewi is also in the holy month of Ramadan when the Muslim triathletes fasts from dawn to sunset for around 30-days. The triathlete representing Kuwait tries to consistently do a series of stretching and mobility exercises daily when restricted to doing hard training efforts during fasting.
“Mobility and stretching exercises tend to have a calming and help to reduce stress. They will improve your range of motion and will help with the stiffness that comes from strength training. For me it gets me ready for my key sessions later on.”
Tri At Home with Najlaa Aljrewi (KUW) on TriathlonLIVE.
Wakako Tsuchida H2 (JAPAN)
Wakako Tsuchida’s sporting career spans across athletics and paratriathlon.
Achievements include:
Winter Paralympic Games
- Lillehammer Winter Paralympic Games
- Nagano Winter Paralympic Games (2 x gold medals and 2 x silver medals on Ice Sledge Skating)
Summer Paralympic Games
- Sydney – Wheelchair Marathon Exhibition Race (Bronze medal)
- Athens – Wheelchair 5,000m (Gold medal) | Wheelchair Marathon (Silver medal)
- London – Wheelchair Marathon (5th place)
Wakako Tsuchida first participated in Paratriathlon in Yokohama in 2017 and declared that her primary sport is Paratriathlon.
“I now believe what we need is this power to get up. All right, everyone. Let us each build up a strong base, and overcome this challenge together!”
Tri At Home with Wakako Tsuchida H2 (JPN) on TriathlonLIVE.
Other worldclass “women in triathlon” supporting “Tri At Home include:
2019 ITU World Champion Katie Zaferes (USA)
“It seems like everyone has gone through different phases of acceptance and denial and fluctuations on a daily basis with motivation, training and everything. I know everybody is approaching this differently and some are happy with the break and others are finding it really hard or don’t know if they can continue for another year and hadn’t planned for that. I’d say I feel comforted by the fact I find myself somewhere in the middle.”
Tri At Home, during a core session, with Katie Zaferes (USA).
Tri At Home with Germany’s Laura Lindemann as she guides a session, designed to maintain swim fitness, to train at home.
Follow along as the ITU Women’s Committee continue to share more stories of women in triathlon across the continents.
