Kirsty Weir emphatically proved that it’s not how you start but how you finish when she cut through the field to place eighth in the women’s PTS4 triathlon on Monday.
The South African, who less than 18 months ago couldn’t ride a bike or swim and yet had been encouraged to take up para-triathlon, was the fastest in the field over the 5km run as she closed out the 750m swim, 20km bike and run with a 20min 37sec time on her feet.
She had taken to the water apprehensive as to what lay ahead in the River Seine, the quality of the water which was such that the event had been postponed until Monday. When asked her thoughts as to what she thought of the river, she quipped, “I’ll tell you tomorrow”.
Weir was ecstatic to show that she belonged amongst the best para-triathletes in her class, even though she admitted that it was the hardest race of her career. “But, if it wasn’t hard then everyone would do it,” said the former Two Oceans 21km marathon champion whose life took a turn for the worse 14 years ago when she developed a rare condition called neurological lupus.
However, she calls herself “the luckiest Paralympian in the world” and sheer joy and happiness was again etched across her face as she took time to soak in what she had just achieved in Paris.
Weir had completed the 750m swim in 19:49, which left her in 12th spot. She made up a couple of places on the bike but it was the run where she showed that class is permanent.
"There are no words. I’m so lucky and so grateful. As a non-swimmer my poor coach (Rohan Kennedy) had to drill me. I could hear his voice after just five metres of the swim downstream. I had promised him I wouldn’t stop and that I’d make it.
“I couldn’t be prouder, having never been taught how to swim. I learned by watching Super Swimmer and then one year as a triathlete. I know I can improve and grow from it because I’m a real baby at it,” she said modestly.
“Qualifying and making everyone and my country proud in the 2028 Paralympics is something I want more than anything in the world. I am exhausted. I pushed as hard as I could and I know I gave it everything."
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