Faye McClelland

Bio...

World Champion, Faye, is originally from Ruislip, Middlesex, and is now coached by Glenn Cook in Eastbourne. She is a member of the UK Sport World Class Lottery Funded British Paratriathlon squad for 2013.

She won the TRI4 event at Hyde Park in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and is the current World and European Champion. The 2009 event in Hyde Park was her first Paratriathlon. She had competed in able-bodied events previous to that, having taken up the sport only recently.

Faye was awarded the Tata Steel British Triathlon Female Paratriathlete of the Year for 2013. 

Coach: Glenn Cook

Club(s): I train with the Bodyworks XTC team based in Eastbourne at the University of Brighton. Bodyworks caters for a variety of abilities from absolute beginners to international Elite Triathletes. There are also many talented age group triathletes and youngsters. 

Education: Currently completing a degree in Physiotherapy at the University of Brighton.

Do you come from a sporting family?

No, my family are not sporty in the competitive sense, however they have always been very active and love the great outdoors.  I have grown up doing much walking, hiking and recreational sea and lake swimming.

Tell us a bit about your disability:

I was born without my left hand, I have a wrist but my fingers never developed.

What is your best strength in triathlon?

I am definiatetly not a master at any three of the disciplines but a bit of an all rounder! However I feel I have a little more strength in cycling over the swim and run.  

How did you get into triathlon? 

It was in 2003 when working as a Fitness Instructor I first heard of the sport. I was interested in participating but couldn't swim front crawl very confidently so I took part in a team relay sprint event with work colleages and completed the run section only. It gave me such a buzz that I decided to get some swimming lessons under my belt and the following year I competed in my first sprint triathlon. Proceeding this, I took part in a series of recreational triathlons as I enjoyed the challenge & it kept me fit. In 2009, after returning from a years travelling over seas, I first heard about Paratriathlon and the prospects of a GB Paratriathlon Team forming. This was a real incentive to get fit again and so that summer I took part in my first Paratriathlon race at the Rother Valley British Paratriathlon Championships. I have been competing in Paratriathlon ever since.

What is your best achievement to date?

Being crowned World Paratriathlon Champion in Budapest in 2010 and then in Beijing 2011.

What's you're sports background?

I didn't come from a competitive sports background. However, I've always enjoyed many active hobbies growing up, including gymnastics, dance, swimming, ice skating and Sea Ranging to name just a few.

Faye McClelland Latest ITU events...