Athlete Camille King takes silver at the 2022 World Triathlon Long Distance Championships in Slovakia

DIBDEN Purlieu’s Camille King added to her growing international medal haul with silver at the 2022 World Triathlon Long Distance Championships in Samorin, Slovakia.

On top of taking second place in the 45-49 age group, mum of three King also finished as the highest placed GB woman and third overall in four hours, 26 minutes and 33 minutes.

The highly driven athlete, who overcame a fractured toe to win bronze at the 2021 World Triathlon Long Distance Championships, has now finished on the podium in her last three world championship appearances – that includes two silvers and a bronze.

The race format was 100km, which included a 2km swim in the Danube, an 80km cycle and an 18km run.

King, who runs and owns the personal training business Dare 2 Dream Fitness, said: “The morning was windy, and it caused the water to be choppy. I knew just by looking at the safety boat drifting quickly that the current in The Danube would be strong on the return leg of the swim.

“The swim is typically my weakest of the three triathlon disciplines. But I worked very hard these last months, and I surprised myself by coming out of the water in 34 minutes, only one minute behind the leading woman and first in my age group.”

In October 2019, King completed the famous Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, finishing a hugely impressive 11th in her age group.

King added: “I flew for the first 40km of the bike section, hitting my target to the halfway turn around point, only to confirm that the wind was now a strong headwind, and my speed reduced significantly. That allowed two of my age group competitors to pass me – eventual overall winner Constance Mochar and fellow GB athlete Corinne Moss.

“For the first lap of the run, my legs felt like lead, but I slowly warmed up into the run and picked up my pace. After the second lap, I ended up repassing fellow GB athlete Corinne Moss and digging deep for the second half of the run.

“Despite the pain in my body, I felt strong and passed the field of women in other age groups, but I couldn’t catch the Austrian Constance as her lead was just too big for my tired legs.

“There were tears as I crossed the finish line; so many emotions rushed through my mind. My legs gave in just after I crossed the finishing arch, and I fell onto the ground. I’m elated with my performance.”

For more information about King’s journey, personal training and sporting endeavours, visit dare2dreamfitness.co.uk/sporting-results