The Chronicle, Summer 2019

35

ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Izzy Rayner OSE, GB Triathlete Interviewed by Sixth Former Jenny Hannah

The Harriers were lucky to end the cross- country season with Izzy Rayner OSE coming back to School to lead a training session and to inspire us with her experience as an U23 GB triathlete. Since leaving Teddies, Izzy has been reading Geography at Glasgow University alongside training. She is currently ranked 20th in the world for triathlon and won bronze for Team GB at the European Championships in Russia in July. During her time at Teddies, Izzy was in the 1sts for netball, hockey and athletics. In addition to sports, she took part in many extracurricular activities, including drama and ballet, both up to grade 8. All through her school career sport played a significant part in Izzy’s schedule but she became even busier

during the Sixth Form when she discovered triathlon. Izzy fell into triathlon by accident. ‘At first it was just a way of cross training in between injuries’, she told us. Izzy had represented Oxfordshire at cross country nationals and had run the 1500 in athletics, but her achievements seemed to plateau due to a series of injuries. Recovering from the injuries Izzy began cycling and swimming and this led to her being encouraged to take part in a duathlon. Despite competing in her first duathlon on her mother’s old bike, the foundations for her subsequent triathlon success were set. Alongside Geography, PE and Biology A Levels, Izzy began to train regularly for triathlon. Early morning swimming and

6am runs became routine. After that first duathlon, Izzy was approached by a local club and got funding for equipment. Now at university, Izzy will often train twice a day; first from 7-8 am, then again in the evening, amounting to 22 hours a week. Izzy’s next goal is to be selected for the senior league team next year. For Izzy, time spent training benefits wider aspects of her life other than just improving sporting results: ‘It keeps your mental health in check, it’s a stress release and it allows you to focus on something other than work’. Her parting advice to school athletes was simple and straightforward: ‘take every opportunity and don’t worry about what others think: stay motivated and driven’.

Maxi Madrian, Daniela Rafart Cardona, Lola Mora Balil, Joseph de Ferranti, Jenny Hannah, Izzy Rayner OSE, Katinka Hughes, Oscar Inglis-Jones, Arkadiy Petrov, Katya Jacobs and Elaine Gschwandtner