Sharky has an eye on Rio!

Category: Triathlon Published Date Hits: 979

Mark Buckingham contested his first triathlon of 2012 in Brazil on Sunday 12th February. The event in Buzios, the Lakes region of Rio de Janeiro was a Fast Triathlon, a super sprint event, where the swim was only 250m, bike 4km and a run of 1.3km. The event was split into three stages, with the athletes scoring points for their placing after the completion of each stage. Mark finished 2nd Individual, behind a talented young Spaniard, Fernando Alarza who had a 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the three stages against Mark's two 2nd places and one 3rd place. The event was won by host country Brazil, with Spain 2nd and the GB team 3rd.

With two of the three London Olympic places taken by the World No 1 & 2, Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee, there is only one place available at the moment for the London Olympics. Sharky switched to Triathlon just over a year ago and this year hopes to gain some World Ranking points, with a view to becoming a contender for the next Olympics in Rio de Janeiro 2016.

Mark didn't particularly enjoy travelling to Rio, but the day after his race, whilst waiting for his return flight he was able to enjoy swimming in a 50m open air pool, with the sun on his back and the iconic Christ the Redeemer Statue looking down on him and his teammates. In his words "Rio was fab". In a weeks' time he returns to South America for an Olympic distance triathlon in Lima, Peru on 26 February and on Sunday 3 March 2012, he hopes to contest the Salinas ITU Triathlon Premium Pan American Cup in Ecuador. Points will not be easily come by as he will be facing some tough opposition from his British teammates who are also looking to amass points in their quest for success. Mark is the 2011 British Elite Duathlon Champion and was awarded the GE British Triathlon Male Elite Duathlete of the Year Award in November 2011, following his performances at the European and World Championships in Limerick, Ireland and Gijon, Northern Spain.

3rd team on the podium Mark Buckingham (2nd Individual), Simon Cooper and Matt Gunby.