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Gold Coaster Bill Chaffey may well be a four-time ITU Paratriathlon world champion but he knows the only way to achieve his ultimate sporting goal is to get tougher.
Chaffey ticked another box on his journey to next year’s Paralympics in Rio with a stunning performance to win his second ITU Paratriathlon Event in London overnight.
The 39-year-old wheelchair triathlete led from start to finish in the PT1 class after a disappointing race in Madrid when he finished second to Dutchman Jetze Plat in Madrid earlier in the month.
But two-weeks of solid work under QAS coach Stephen Moss at Aix Les Bains in France had the 39-year-old primed for a return to his best form.
He produced the fastest swim and hand cycle splits of the day to take the title in a time of 1:00.16.
He proved too strong in the end for Geert Schipper (NED) 1:03.24 and Phil Hogg (GBR) 1:04.18.
Chaffey will now return to Queensland to prepare for the Rio Test Event on August 1 and the ITU World Championships in Chicago in September.
“I had a disappointing race in Madrid and although second was still good, the racing’s tougher so I have to be tougher,” said Chaffey, who broke his hip in the eve of the world championships last year.
“I have just had a couple of weeks training at Aix Les Bains in France with the QAS and that has been great.
“I will return home now to see the family after being away for a month and the major focus now is the Rio Test Event on August 1 and the ITU World Championships in Chicago in September.”
Chaffey knows he has to lift his game and he won’t back off in his desires to reach Rio.
“When I first started in the sport there was no spot on the team for Paratriathlon in Rio; I just did it because I loved the sport; but it gives you one more thing to focus on which is great,” said Chaffey.
“I have been around for a while but there are so many new people coming into the sport now and they are making massive gains in the early stages of their careers.
“I’ve got a good team around me; we know what the focus is and what I need to do; there are of course stepping stones along the way but getting ready for Rio is the ultimate goal.”
By Triathlon Australia
Posted: 1/6/2015
