I didn’t set out to become a professional triathlete. In fact, my story is probably a lot like yours.

I played sports for the fun of competing against my brothers and sister, the camaraderie of my uni field hockey team, and the fitness and balance sports brought to my life. While most professional triathletes were climbing up the ranks, I was climbing the corporate ladder.

And then, something extraordinary happened.

I discovered that I love triathlon.

I was working for Lloyds Banking Group in London, and my boss offered up a spare place on the company’s charity team at the London Triathlon. I had been running a lot in preparation for the Berlin marathon, but this training was on another level. The run and the bike came easily enough, but swimming was (and still is!) another story; I came out of my first open water swim covered in green slime and convinced I would never open water swim again!

Still, crossing the finish line for the first time was epic! I was hooked.

That was 2013. Since then I’ve joined the local triathlon club, got stuck into racing, and have been obsessed with triathlon! I’ve worked hard to be the best I can possibly be. I had heard about other pro triathletes who hadn’t come from elite sports backgrounds and, like me, had corporate jobs. They inspired me to be brave, take a risk and chase my dream, and now I hope to inspire you, too.

You see, everyone has the potential to do more, to be better, to be amazing in their own way.

It’s been true for me. Six years on from my first triathlon, I won the overall age group race at the Ironman World Championship, and I made the leap, at age 30, to become a professional triathlete. Some people think l’m a little crazy, giving up a stable career and chasing my dream.

I’m not crazy; I’m motivated. To be the best athlete I can be. To race the best athletes in the world. To keep pushing myself to be better and find my limits. To amaze myself, and share my love of sport with you, so that you can be amazing, too.

What does it mean to be amazing? I’s not about winning every time or setting world records. It’s about challenging yourself, being brave, pushing through your doubts, and working hard to be better than you ever thought you could be. It’s about fighting through adversity, embracing failure and learning from it.

It’s a journey and I invite you to join me as we become amazing together.