PEASGOOD Alison

Classification
PTVI (ITU, 25 Jun 2021)

Type of Impairment
Vision impairment (dunfermlinepress.com, 23 Jun 2021; triathlon.org, 01 Sep 2019)

Origin of Impairment
Congenital (heraldscotland.com, 23 May 2016)

Impairment Details
She has less than 10% vision as the result of albinism. She regained some sight as a child, but it began to reduce at age seven. (dunfermlinepress.com, 23 Jun 2021; triathlon.org, 01 Sep 2019; heraldscotland.com, 23 May 2016)

Guide
Nikki Bartlett (bbc.co.uk, 08 Jul 2021; tri247.com, 22 Jun 2021; dunfermlinepress.com, 20 Jan 2021)

General
CYCLING STRENGTH
She says that cycling is her and her guide Nikki's strongest leg of the triathlon, while the swimming leg can be particularly challenging due to her visual impairment. "It's hard for me because I obviously have no idea what's happening in the swim, as I can't even see Nikki. It takes longer for someone like me to process, but that's racing. You have to get used to all the unpredictable things that could happen. The bike is our strength, so once you relax and you're into it, you think, 'Oh that's behind us'. I just love it when a bike is going fast. For someone who can't drive, nothing compares to that sensation of speed." (dunfermlinepress.com, 23 Jun 2021)

HUSBAND
She met her husband Jack in 2014 when he was working as a guide for the British men's Para triathlon squad. She has spent time training with Jack as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Jack is a former triathlete himself, and he got involved with the Para squad through his brother George. Before the COVID pandemic struck we kept our triathlon lives separate - I worked with different coaches and guides depending on whether I was at home in Stirling [Scotland] or with the team in Loughborough [England]. Lockdown and restrictions meant that changed. We train and go out on the tandem together. It's been really helpful for me - and if I'm cross after a session when I haven't done as well as I may have wanted to, we've agreed that once I'm off the bike we forget about it. From a performance level, it really helps me as Jack, who now works as a coach at Triathlon Scotland, understands everything I need to do to be at my best - even things like napping after a swim." (paralympics.org.uk, 01 Jun 2021; cambridge-news.co.uk, 17 May 2019)

PREVIOUS OCCUPATION
She worked as a physiotherapist before joining the British Para triathlon programme in 2014 and beginning full-time training. (britishtriathlon.org, 01 Jun 2021; dunfermlinepress.com, 20 Jan 2021; triathlon.org, 01 Sep 2019)