Island Games: Isle of Man triathlete returns to event after 2023 crash
Despite his injuries, the overall performance of the team in 2023 saw it take home a bronze medal - which Mr Looker was presented with in his hospital bed.
He said after time spent in a neck brace, and with the support of his wife Kay, he had been able to "build back to about 95% of where my body was"."I'm upright and I'm able to do exactly what I did before - if all I have to manage is a few niggles then I'll deal with it," he said."I also had a tough time mentally but Kay was there for me throughout, even though she was becoming very heavily pregnant with our daughter".
After resting and recovering, Mr Looker said he had managed to fit in 18 months of training in the build up to this year's competition, which had to be "slow and steady" at first.Set for his third games, and with his wife and daughter travelling to cheer him on, he said he was "genuinely really looking forward" to representing the Isle of Man during Sunday's triathlon event which takes place around Stromness Harbour.Aiming for another medal, the triathlete said "we have a really strong squad of both men and women who have put the training in"."The goal for this games has to be bronze or better", he added.Action at the Orkney Island Games was set to begin following Saturday's opening ceremony and continues until 18 July.
Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
In Pictures: Opening of the Island Games in Orkney
The Island Games have kicked off in Orkney, with more than 2,500 people gathered in Kirkwall's Bignold Park for the opening Scottish heatwave brought 19C temperatures on Saturday evening, a rare high for Orkney as other parts of the country baked at more than Princess Royal opened the games, while Scots TV presenter Lorraine Kelly and BBC Radio Orkney's Stuart Bain hosted the competitiors joined together and marched down the streets waving flags with their home island colours.
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Triathlete Atkinson wins Jersey's first 2025 Island Games gold
Jersey's Tom Atkinson has won the first gold medal at the 2025 Island won the men's individual triathlon around Stromness Harbour in Orkney, finishing ahead of Gotland's silver-medallist Thomas Atkinson and Bobby Oag from Orkney who took triathlon was the first medal event at the 2025 games where more than 2,000 sports people will be competing from 24 was a first individual Island Games medal for 21-year-old Atkinson, who was fourth at the last Island Games in Guernsey. "I tried to push the swim hard and noticed there were some guys sat on my feet for the whole swim, so I pushed for the first couple of laps on the bike and took it from there," Atkinson told BBC Radio Jersey."On the run I tried to set out a bit easy as it's quite a hilly course, but I think I paced it well."
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
The heartwarming advice given to Kate Middleton by girl, eight, before she awarded Wimbledon trophy
Kate Middleton was given heartwarming advice by an eight-year-old girl ahead of presenting the Wimbledon trophy on Saturday. Lydia Lowe, who overcame a brain injury in 2023, was given the honor of performing the coin toss ahead of the wheelchair singles final. After shaking her hand, the Princess of Wales asked the eight-year-old whether she was 'nervous' about the coin toss, adding: 'Have you got any advice for me? Because I've got to go out.' Lydia from Doncaster, England answered: 'Don't be nervous. Take deep breaths.' Kate lit up and replied: 'Take deep breaths? OK, I'll remember that. Thank you.' The royal then told Lydia she was a 'pro' and asked her 'what does it mean to you to come and do this?', with the eight-year-old replying: 'It means loads to me.' Kate added that she wanted to say 'well done' and celebrate Lydia's 'bravery'. Lydia loves tennis and has got back into the sport to help her recover from her brain injury, that has also left her visually impaired. She said in an interview before doing the coin toss: 'When I first woke up I felt a bit light-headed and I couldn't believe that I was still here. It has been really hard for me as I was a fantastic tennis player before but since the injury it has been really hard.' 'My dream was to be in Wimbledon and now I am sort of being in Wimbledon so that is a dream come true for me.' Lydia's mother, Leanne explained that it was tennis that helped Lydia regain the use of her left hand. She said: 'As part of her rehabilitation, the doctors said to try and get Lydia back into doing things that she was doing before. 'She got taken onto a tennis court and she picked up her racket and all she wanted to do was use her left hand and that's how she's got her left hand back, through tennis.' Kate also met Sophie Kneen, 12, who was selected to perform the coin toss at the women's singles final, representing the AFC Wimbledon Foundation. Speaking after meeting the future queen, Sophie said 'It was so, so good, and I'm really honoured to be able to meet her. 'She asked me a bit about the charity I'm with and I said how they try and encourage young girls to play sports.'
