The annual Superhero triathlon is part of the UK’s only disability sport series and offers inclusive and accessible opportunities for everyone. A team from Slater and Gordon – Helen Barry, Tom Connors, Ahmed Khan and Dominic O’Hara – took part on behalf of the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA). Here, Helen shares her experience
I must admit that I entered this event with some trepidation. I am not a naturally sporty person and the thought of swimming in a freezing cold lake was daunting.
I had attempted to ‘train’ by practising ‘wild swimming’ in the Princes Dock in Liverpool, under the watchful eye of our Liver Birds, but my one attempt without a wetsuit on a rainy and overcast July was enough to send me straight back to a warm indoor pool!
Such is my ignorance on matters Triathlon, I had to ask my teammates on the morning of the event as to what was the order of play, to be told it was swim, cycle, run. We learn something new every day.
This Superhero Triathlon event at Lake Dorney, Windsor, was an experience I will never forget. I felt a range of emotions – pure joy and elation, shame and humility.
From the moment we drove through the entrance to be greeted cheerily by the security guard to the finishing line, every single volunteer on the day could not have been more helpful and solicitous for the welfare of those competing.
I use the word ‘competing’ very loosely because it seemed to me that it didn’t matter whether you swam like a snail ( guilty!) or performed your personal best to the highest standard you could achieve. The old adage ‘it’s not the winning, it’s the taking part that counts’, which is usually spoken with a hint of irony to denote the exact opposite to be true; yet on this occasion, it was very much true.
From the car park stewards, to the lovely lady who had to use brute strength to squeeze my body into an XXL wetsuit, to the wonderful teams of volunteers, from Superheroes clapping and cheering on the swimmers to achieve their personal goal, to the outstretched arms helping us emerge from the lake or cross the finish line ready to assist in any way possible – this was an exercise in sheer inclusivity.
Having gingerly got down on my hands and knees onto the pier to carefully lower my body into the water, I felt ashamed to witness a teenage girl with a beautiful lime green costume and flowery swim cap, jump high into the air from the pier and swim like a fish towards the first buoy. This achievement to me was even more remarkable as she was an above and below knee amputee.
I managed a 400m swim and was so proud of myself for coming in as one of the stragglers at the end of Wave 5, but it mattered not, because no one cared, it was all just pure joy and fun!
My team member Dave Eastham of the Spinal Injuries Association (himself a wheelchair user) on the other hand, was taking his challenge far more seriously, when he whizzed through to the Transition pen, having left behind our other team members still struggling around the lake on their hired bikes. Dave changed and was off to conquer the run!
I got chatting at one of the stands and ambled over to the finish line only to find that I had missed his finish, as he had already completed it; meanwhile Tom, Ahmed and Dom were still cycling around the lake!
The setting was stunningly beautiful, in the heart of the Berkshire countryside near Windsor Castle. We didn’t just have four seasons in one day, we probably had them in one hour! The lake appeared choppy at first, then the waters calmed down. Then a glorious sun shone only to rapidly disappear to gloomy clouds and heavy rain. No one seemed to care, everyone just bashed on, chatting and laughing.
The Superhero Series celebrates everyday superheroes who overcome adversity and challenges in everyday life and empowers them to take on sporting challenges.
The series has partnered with many wonderful charities, who support people in every walk of life ensuring that the event is a melting pot of different backgrounds and has a true spirit of inclusivity.
Every Superhero needs a sidekick, ours for the day was Romulus – a delightful border collie dressed in an SIA cloak, he stole our hearts.
This is a day I will never forget, so if you feel incentivised to compete or just turn up and cheer on the sidelines at next year’s event, you will not be disappointed.
Next year’s event is on 17th August 2024. The theme of the day is to do as much or as little as you can personally manage. And please don’t forget, there is still time left to make a financial contribution to the 2023 event.
