Bryanston’s biathlon boy proves too good at SA championships

Bryanston’s biathlon boy has done it again.

With 81 athletes in his category, Joshua Eccles (10) proved too good at the South African Biathlon Championships in Pretoria on 31 March.

He outpaced the pack in the 800m run, finishing in 02:23. This was followed by a 50m swim, which Eccles completed in just 31 seconds.

The points earned from the two events were enough for him to not only win the championships but also to break his own SA record he set at the interprovincials in February.

At the champs he scored 2 455 points, bettering his 2 402 points in February which had bettered the previous record that had stood since 1997.

“In biathlon, I can really push hard on my run as there is a break in-between the run and swim so I can rest,” Joshua explained.

When speaking about his goals in biathlon, as well as biathle and triathle, he said he sets the bar as high as possible for himself and always aims to win medals at the Biathle and Triathle World Championships.

“I hope to one day maybe compete in pentathlon at the Olympics. I have all my training programmes set to my watch and I have the vitamins and training drinks to keep me healthy and ready to race.”

Last year, Joshua competed in the SA Biathle, Triathle and Laser-run Championships and won all three to earn an SA hat- trick. He then went to Spain to represent South Africa in the Biathle and Triathle World Championships.

Competing against 29 other countries, his events were biathle mixed relay, triathle mixed relay, triathle individual and biathle individual.

Joshua won gold in all four, and team SA won two team golds which meant Joshua brought home six gold world championship medals.

He puts his success down to loving what he does so much, and the coaching and support he receives.

Also read: Fit and raring to represent SA in Spain 

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