Three years ago, amid a second lockdown and strict Covid measures, I interviewed a young Portuguese triathlete at poolside in the London Aquatics Centre. Vasco Vilaça had just taken part in the Super League Arena Games and further burnished his growing reputation. Here was an athlete who had grown up in Lisbon, trained out of Sweden, and was now living in Spain as he attempted to forge a career for himself in the sport.
Vilaça had been a surprise runnerup in the one-race world champs in Hamburg, 2020. So, when I asked him about heading to Tokyo, I was expecting eager anticipation.
Instead, it was resignation. His country would pick the Joaos, Silva and Periera - solid athletes but both on the downswing in their careers.
They would finish 23rd and 27th, respectively.
I saw Vilaça again in the mixed zone in Paris - the corridor beyond the finish line where journalists line up to interview triathletes. In the biggest race of his career, he had finished fifth. A superb performance, particularly because scars from a bike pile-up in Yokohama in May were still visible.
この記事は 220 Triathlon の October 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は 220 Triathlon の October 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
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