Duathlon newcomer's 'incredible' championship win
An amateur running enthusiast has described the "incredible experience" of winning a gold medal at the duathlon world championships - just months after taking up the sport.
Zoe Tucker, from Sherborne in Dorset, claimed victory in the sprint category at last month's competition in Spain.
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She first tried duathlon - a race combining a run, a cycle and another run - at an event in Thruxton, Hampshire, last October, alongside a couple of friends.
The 46-year-old mother of two said she had "never thought it would be possible" to compete at the highest level.
Ms Tucker said she first entered the Thruxton Mass Attack Sprint Duathlon in last year as "a bit of motivation and fun," inspired by two friends who were also taking part.
To her surprise, she finished first in her age group and fifth overall, earning her a spot to represent Great Britain at the world championships in Pontevedra, Spain.
The world championships were held in Pontevedra in June [Duathlon World Championships]
A member of her local Communifit group, Ms Tucker had already been active in running 5km and 10km races and often cycled to attend parkruns.
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But competing on the world stage was something she had never imagined.
She described the experience as "an absolute honour."
"The scale of the event, the opening ceremony, a parade of nations, walking with GB kit and flag - it was an incredible experience."
In the event, she became world champion in the sprint distance - a 5km run, a 19.7km bike ride followed by a 2.5km run to finish.
Ms Tucker came first in her category and was also the fastest British woman overall in all age groups.
"Just coming round the track for the last lap, knowing I was probably going to get over that line first was incredible," she said.
Training for the world championships has meant juggling family and work life [Zoe Tucker]
Ms Tucker admitted that she had "absolutely never in my wildest dreams" expected to compete - let alone win - at the world championships.
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Preparing for the event meant balancing a demanding schedule, often juggling work and family life. She even brought her children along on training runs and to duathlon events.
"I'm hopefully inspiring them a bit, but it's been hard," she said.
With the next world championships in Abu Dhabi next year, Ms Tucker said was aiming to develop a training plan and would like to get an indoor training bike to sustain competing at the highest level.
"There are so many activities and opportunities and events - I just think if an opportunity comes your way, just grab it and enjoy it along the way," she said.
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