Perham is on the right track (From Dorset Echo)

Perham is on the right track

8:56am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in Youth Sport By Adam Summers

QUALIFYING to compete in the Olympic Games is tough enough when you are trying to perfect one discipline let alone three.

That is the challenge Portland triathlete Chris Perham is taking on and he is already on the right track.

The 16-year-old’s list of achievements over the past three years is impressive. Not only has he already claimed three medals at three different World Biathle Championships, including gold in Dubai in 2010, but he also won a place on the Tri-UK race team and successfully negotiated his way into the South West Triathlon Talent Academy.

Perham’s love of competing was first harnessed at the Tornadoes of South Dorset Swimming Club under the tuition of Phil Daniels and since then it has blossomed into a dream that the teenager is determined to fulfil.

He said: “I initially went to Tornadoes to learn to swim and as I started to move up through the groups I began to take part in competitions.

“As well as swimming, I have always enjoyed running at school so in the end it was just a natural progression to put both disciplines together.

“That led me to get into biathle with Dorset Pentathletes and from there I have started to move on to triathlon, which is my main focus.

“This year I will be entering some of the races in the South West Triathlon Series and training with the South West Talent Academy team.

“I will also be taking part in some of the British Youth & Junior Super Series races where the national aquathlon, duathlon and triathlon for my junior 17-19 age group takes place, which can qualify me for international events like the European and World junior races.

“I am also hoping to get on the GB training team, which will then give me more opportunities to race abroad, while my ultimate aim is the Olympic training team where hopefully one day I can go on and compete in the Games itself.”

Swimming and running have always come naturally to Perham since a very young age, making the transition to triathlon a relatively easy one.

He added: “Cycling is the easiest one to start without, out of the three, because it is not as technical as swimming or running.

“I do cycling training indoors and I also go out with other triathletes as well.

“We also do a lot of it at the South West camps where we practice things like drafting.

“My basic regime is three or four swim sessions a week along with three running sessions and three cycling sessions.

“I do cross country as well and also go to Poole AC where I do some track running.

“At the moment everyone is talking about the Olympics and it is something I really want to do.

“With Weymouth & Portland hosting the sailing events this year, everyone is excited about it and I am sure the Games will provide a huge boost to all the sports in terms of exposure.

“Triathlon is a relatively new sport in it but it is very much up and coming.

“It has been pushed quite heavily over recent years and I am sure this year it will become even bigger.”

Two athletes Perham will be keeping a close eye on this summer are the Brownlee brothers, who are his biggest idols.

He said: “Jonathan and Alistair Brownlee are the top two triathletes in Great Britain and the world. Jonathan is 21 and Alistair is 23 and their achievements to date have been incredible.

“I will be 21 when the next Olympic Games come around in Brazil in 2016 and I would love to follow in their footsteps.

“One of the coaches at the South West Academy is Harry Wiltshire who is on the GB team and races and trains with the Brownlee brothers.

“He has loads of experience and I am certainly getting a lot of tips off him, which is great.”

Perham went on to say: “I am also still doing biathles and working with the GB biathle coach Mick Flaherty.

“The World Biathle Championships I have competed in have all been fantastic experiences and the way the sport has really taken off around here through Dorset Pentathletes has just been superb.

“There are some really talented athletes at the club throughout the age groups and it really is a great starting point for anyone interested in moving into triathlon.”

This year, Perham has already tasted victory at the South West Schools’ Biathlon Championships (Year 12-13) and been nominated for the South West Sports Aid Award – further evidence of the huge strides he is making in his quest to compete at Rio 2016.