Kate Waugh: “I’ve definitely put my name in the hat for Paris”

This time last year, the chances of Gateshead’s Kate Waugh representing Team GB at the Olympic Games in Paris looked a long shot.

Waugh was an outstanding prospect; having started the sport aged eight she’d just become the U23 world champion in Abu Dhabi.

The problem was that with the greatest depth of talent anywhere in the world, there seemed to be just too many British women in the queue ahead of her for 2024.

But after breakthrough performances this last summer, Waugh has put herself firmly in contention for one of the two remaining individual spots.

Seventh in the Paris Test Event was followed by a career-high second place at the World Triathlon Grand Final, ending the series ranked sixth, before taking the ultra-competitive Super League crown in October.

It’s been a standout run, but the 24-year-old is also no overnight success…

220: How did you get introduced to triathlon?

Kate Waugh: My dad and granddad were super into cycling so I’ve grown up around bikes, I had swimming lessons and was part of a local run club. I also did gymnastics and it was there I saw a local triathlon advertised.

I was only seven or eight so we didn’t swim more than about 100m, the bike was less than 1km and the run was about 4-500m. I don’t think I did very well, but I was completely hooked.

220: What would you say are your strengths in the sport?

KW: I don’t have any particular standouts in the sport, but I like to think of myself as a well-rounded athlete. I hope it means that whatever the race scenario, I can be competitive.

Whether it’s a super-challenging bike course, a fast bike and pure running race, or whether it’s an ocean or lake swim, I like to think that it doesn’t faze me and I can achieve a solid result.

220: Who do you look up to in tri?

KW: I was only 13 when I watched the Brownlees [Alistair and Jonny] dominate in 2012 [at the London Olympics, where they won gold and bronze, respectively].

Those two have changed the sport, and it’s inspiring to be on a similar pathway to them. I love the way they raced – hard, honest racing and that’s what I hope to do going forward.

I also loved watching Helen [Jenkins]. I never raced her, but we were on a training camp in Portugal and I was watching her do some killer sessions. The first couple of times I raced on the elite circuit I was mesmerised by everyone!

220: What do you take from your psychology studies that has helped you in your sport?

KW: I’ve a year left on my psychology degree at the University of Leeds. I decided to defer this year to be all-in on qualifying for the Olympics, so I’ll take up my final year at the end of 2024.

Study in general has made me organised and disciplined with time management, but I don’t study sports psychology. It’s more social and evolutionary psychology, so I’m not sure studying Freud has really helped me in triathlon!

220: Why did you leave your UK training base for an international squad?

KW: I’d been in Leeds for five years and felt I needed a big change to find my passion for the sport again. I’ve always wanted to live abroad and live that out-of-a-suitcase life travelling between training camps.

I felt really lucky to be offered a place on [coach Paulo Sousa’s] international squad and it happened quite fast, I hadn’t really planned it. It’s going well.

I enjoy his philosophy, and British Triathlon was really supportive of my move and I can still see its support staff and network. I love the group and they are some of my best friends now inside and out of sport. I couldn’t have asked for more.

220: How much of a help is it having partner Max Stapley in your training group, especially now he has switched allegiance to GB?

KW: I’d lived in the UK all my life and now we move from base to base depending on the time of year, so it’s nice to have my partner with me.

He’s made a positive move to British Triathlon which is really great as well. It can be hard being away from home and family, so it’s nice to have that constant support there.

220: How much did being crowned world U23 champ mean last year?

KW: It was a huge move forward for me in terms of my overall confidence and what I could achieve in the sport. It was something I wanted to do all year – to win that gold medal.

I had some complications going into the race where I missed a lot of running and we had to figure out a different way to win. We practised breakaway scenarios and I’m so glad it paid off.

220: Can you pinpoint the reasons behind your improving form this summer?

KW: I think the win at U23 worlds set the foundation because it built my confidence. But I also decided to make a step up this year to be that professional athlete who is on it with their nutrition, on time to training, and always has the equipment they need.

I think I’ve morphed into the athlete I looked up to and it’s really paid off. I then had the best winter of training I’ve ever had which gave me a solid base to build from.

I had a bit of a back injury going into Paris, so preparation wasn’t quite what I wanted but I’m still happy with the result.

Pontevedra [the Grand Final] was an example of what I can do when everything goes right. It was the best triathlon I’ve done in my life, and left me lost for words because I didn’t see myself in this position so soon.

To podium at a grand final in my first year as an elite is super special.

220: How do you feel about your chances of making the GB team for the Paris Olympics?

KW: I’m putting everything into trying to qualify and I’m not going to give up until the final selections are made. I’ve definitely put my name in the hat, whereas before I was more of an outside chance.

It’s an honour to have my name mentioned with the likes of Georgia Taylor-Brown, Sophie Coldwell and [now qualified] Beth Potter.

I’ve looked up to these girls, so it’s a privilege to be in that position. But someone is going to be upset and I’ll do everything possible to make sure it’s not me.

Top image credit: Super League Triathlon