University professor Valerie Gladwell, from Hadleigh, makes debut for Team GB at European Triathlon Championships
A Suffolk academic-turned-triathlete has competed on the international stage for the first time, drawing upon family inspiration as she overcame health issues to reach the finish line.
Professor Valerie Gladwell described her delight, following her debut representing Great Britain at the 2023 European Triathlon Championships in Madrid earlier this month.
Inspired by her children, the Hadleigh resident had only taken up the sport two years earlier, training with groups in Sudbury and Ipswich alongside her work as director of the University of Suffolk’s Institute of Health and Wellbeing.
After earning selection for Team GB via qualifying events last year, the Hadleigh resident had to battle through Crohn’s disease – a type of inflammatory bowel disease – and a blood clot in her lung in the lead-up to the championship.
Despite these setbacks, she finished 13th in her age group in the standard race – comprising a five-kilometre run, 40km bike ride, and 10km run, after water quality issues forced the events to be adapted into duathlons.
Just one day later, a 10th place finish followed in the sprint race, which consisted of a 2.5km run, 20km bike and 5km run.
“I was thrilled to represent GB,” said Professor Gladwell. “It was an amazing experience and I really hope to do more of this in the future.
“I am inspired by my children who take part in triathlons and I cannot do it without the support of my husband and family.
“I had hoped to finish a bit higher, but I suffer from Crohn’s, which had been in flare since November, and it is just under control.
“I also had a blood clot on my lung in early March, so I had to take my training very steady and not over-push myself in both training and the races.”
Having competed in her first ever triathlon in 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Professor Gladwell explained that she was motivated to start while her son, Harvey, was in hospital being treated for colitis.
The pair then completed an ‘Iron Man’ course – a form of long-distance triathlon – in August that year, raising more than £2,000 for Crohn’s and Colitis UK.
She was subsequently selected to represent Team GB, after achieving a top 20 slot during the European Championship qualifiers at Eton Dorney in May 2022, and in Leeds the following month.
“The reason I took it up is because my son suffers from ulcerative colitis,” she said.
“In 2020, he had his colon removed and, when he was in his hospital bed, he said ‘I am doing an Iron Man and you are going to do it with me’.”
Alongside her university job – where she is currently researching areas such as menopause, diabetes, active travel and physical activity – Professor Gladwell trains regularly with her son and her daughter, Darcy.
She is currently a member of the TRISudbury organisation, and is now hopeful of securing a place at the 2024 World Championships in Malaga, when she competes at a qualifier in Sunderland next month.
