Dunfermline: Alison Peasgood on Paralympics and Triathlon

The standalone paratriathlon event is now in its third year, since beginning in Wales in 2022, but the 36-year-old, a silver medallist at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, was unable to compete as she recovered from concussion.

In 2023, Alison was less than a month away from giving birth to her son, Logan, and couldn't participate but was still able to soak up the atmosphere by taking on a commentary role.

"It feels like I have missed out on Swansea, so to actually be there competing is going to be pretty exciting," she said.

"It was amazing to be there commentating last year, especially coming off the back of the Commonwealth Games, where the crowds had been amazing.

"There were loads of spectators that first year, the weather was nice, the atmosphere was pretty special for a para tri race.

"The second year it was pouring with rain but even still loads of people had turned out and I was in the commentating booth, and there did feel like there was a buzz about it."

Alison, who competes in the PTVI classification for visually impaired athletes, gave birth in August and knew when she became pregnant that she would be in a race against time to qualify for a third Paralympic Games.

READ MORE: Alison races to silver on para-triathlon return

They take place in Paris later this year and Alison, who competes alongside guide Brooke Gillies, knows that a good result on June 22 is crucial if she is to add to the memorable silver achieved eight years ago.

Alison, who finished fourth in the Tokyo Paralympics, which were delayed a year and held in 2021, continued: "I wasn’t fortunate to get pregnant very easily, in my head I wanted to get pregnant much sooner after the Commonwealth Games.

"But that is not always what happens unfortunately and, when it was August time when I had Logan, I thought ‘it is doable but it is going to be a push’.

"And it still feels like it is going to be a push to get there, but it almost doesn’t massively matter. If I do get there, great, but if I don’t, I still have got Logan.

Alison Peasgood, right, is preparing to compete in Swansea later this month as she aims for Paralympic qualification. (Image: Reuters via Beat Media subscription.)

"You need three races to qualify and I still need one more race. I have only done two and ideally I need to come top four in a World Series event.

"Swansea is going to play such a key role in my journey because there is Swansea, and then Montreal, and then that is it."

On her return to competitive racing in March, she placed second at World Triathlon Para Series Devonport, in Tasmania, Australia, in March, and then finished third in her second race back.

Even after those successes, Alison readily admits she's still not back to full fitness, with outdoor group training sessions largely swapped for stints on the treadmill and standing bike as Logan naps.

"Coming back into triathlon, the swim and bike are really coming, it is the run that has been the hardest one to get back into," she continued.

"Ahead of going to my first race back, I had only run outside a handful of times and off the back of that, I tore my calf.

"To be able to get some consistent running ahead of Swansea would be amazing and hopefully I can deliver a race I can be proud of to secure that slot."

Alison first took up para-triathlon in 2013, having previously represented Scotland as a runner, and been crowned an IBSA (International Blind Sports Federation) 800 metres champion in swimming.

Following her debut in 2014, she has gone on to enjoy a successful para-triathlon career, earning multiple European and world titles, as well as silver in Rio, alongside her guide, Hazel Smith.

In late 2023, she was one of 18 para athletes and their guides selected for support in British Triathlon's UK Sport, and National Lottery backed, World Class Programme for 2024.

*The world’s best para-triathletes return to Swansea on Saturday June 22. The city will come alive with swim, bike, run ahead of the Paris Paralympic Games, with Swansea one of the final opportunities to secure crucial qualification points.

You can find out more at https://www.britishtriathlon.org/events/major-events/world-triathlon-para-series-swansea.