Tegan set to tackle Youth Olympics
Danville Park Girls' High School pupil wins Tinman triathlon.
UMHLANGA resident, Tegan Gore, has set her sights on making the SA team for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games for triathlon. The Danville Park Girls’ High School Grade 9 pupil has already put in some impressive performances with two second place finishes in the ATU Triathlon Junior African Championships and the Africa Cup in Zimbabwe.
Most recently, she won the Tinman Triathlon Series Sprint triathlon race (600m swim/22km bike/5km run) overall, held in Durban last weekend, beating all of her older rivals in the process.
“I was really excited with the win, I didn’t know what to do. It was my first official sprint and it was literally like going into the deep end. I had a good swim and a good transition on the bikes, it was really close in the run and I’m just glad I was able to secure my first win. I’ve had good momentum going into the event, I came second in Zimbabwe and Bloemfontein and I was really pleased with the results,” she explained.
Tegan now has two years in which to prepare for the games and is already part of the Triathlon South Africa Youth Olympic training squad.
“I really want to go to the youth games and am really amped to train and race hard over the next two years to ensure I reach this goal. My ultimate aim is the Commonwealth Games in 2022 here in Durban and then the proper Olympic Games in 2024,” she said.
The Grade 9 pupil is currently being trained by her dad, Glen Gore, who is also a former professional triathlete and SA Elite Champ.
“Having my dad coaching me and talking me through everything is fantastic. He has been through all of this before and he always motivates me on the course and encourages me to push myself. I’m very lucky to have someone like him in my corner,” she said.
Tegan next takes on a sprint triathlon in Sun City in May.
