Team PNG’s first athlete to compete at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, Triathlete Rachel Sapery James, created history for PNG by becoming the first triathlete to finish an elite international level triathlon race.
Four years ago, Rachel competed at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games where she did not finish the course.
“After Glasgow, I went back home and thought I want to have another shot," Rachel, 34, said. "A lot of the girls from developing countries got pulled off the course after the swim leg at Glasgow 2014 because it was Olympic distance.”
"I knew what I was going up against going into Glasgow but I was disappointed with the result. I spoke to the International Triathlon president and she said you've got four years to have another shot so I went home, had a think about it and prepared for the Pacific Games in 2015 in Port Moresby (PNG).”
After competing at the Pacific Games, Rachel has travelled back and forth between the Sunshine Coast (AUS) and Papua New Guinea, to increase her training. She became and maintained her ranking as the No.1 female Pacific Islander from 2016 through to 2017 to qualify for the Commonwealth Games.
In an effort to do more regular racing, Rachel participated in her first International Triathlon Union World Series event last year on the Gold Coast as well as her first World Cup event in Mooloolaba on Australia's Sunshine Coast this year, both times being lapped.
While others may have been disheartened, those experiences left Rachel even more determined. The triathlon, which consists of three events in one, begins with a 750m swim leg. Competitors then transition to a 20km bicycle leg before finishing with a 5km run.
Rachel’s dedicated preparation to what is arguably the most challenging event on the Commonwealth Games sports program paid off when she crossed the finish line in a time of 1 hour 10 minutes and 20 seconds, placing her 20th.
With a strong south-east breeze blowing at the Southport venue, Rachel had a great start when she was first into the water for what is traditionally her weakest leg. The heavy water with strong winds whipping up choppy waves made the swim leg additionally difficult.
Emerging from the water in 21st position Rachel transitioned into the bicycle leg. She finished the four laps of the technical course along the Gold Coast highway but dropped a place into 22nd going into the final run leg. It was during the run that Rachel dug deep to overtake two competitors including a strong finish passing the Trinidad and Tobago athlete and finished 20th in a strong field that saw the top four female triathletes in the world competing.
It was world champion Flora Duffy of Bermuda who finished first to claim the Gold Coast Games first gold medal.
Rachel’s fantastic effort was acknowledged by the vocal PNG supporters in the crowd, including Team PNG Chef de Mission Tamzin Wardley and Secretary General Auvita Rapilla.
After creating triathlon history for PNG, Rachel will now continue the good work she is doing to develop the sport in her home province New Ireland and the rest of PNG.
"I want to pave a way for triathlon in Papua New Guinea and I would like to see more race opportunities for the Pacific Island region. There's a lot of talent, they just don’t have the opportunities."