Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 113, December 2018 | Page 32

MULTISPORT
After eight years in the South African national swimming
squad from 2009 to 2016, and representing her country
all over the world, Jessica Ashley-Cooper decided it
was time for a new challenge, so she decided to tackle the
world of triathlon. – BY SEAN FALCONER
Her delayed tri debut thus moved to the Freshpak
Fitness Festival at Clanwilliam Dam at the end of
September, and nobody was surprised to see her
leading the women’s race out of the water. She was
eventually caught on the bike by eventual winner
Michelle Krebs, but Jess held on for a remarkable
second overall and her first tri podium. Next she took
on the Slanghoek Triathlon in Rawsonville in late
October, where she overcame the 42-degree heat, a
puncture and a typical beginner’s time penalty to finish
her second tri with a relieved smile. We caught up with
her for a quick chat about her tri experience so far.
MA: Have you now officially retired from
competitive swimming, or just put it on hold while
focusing on other sports? Do you still participate
in stand-alone swim events?
JAC: I do participate in the occasional open water
swim for fun, but I don’t race competitively anymore.
MA: Looking back on your swimming career,
what are the standout highlights for you?
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JAC: I participated at the Commonwealth games
in Glasgow, and at the All Africa Championships I
received a gold medal in the 50m backstroke.
MA: What prompted you to go into triathlons?
JAC: I have always been a competitive athlete,
and after my swimming career I wanted to find a new
challenge. When I was younger, I represented SA at
the World Champs Biathle and I have always had
a goal in life to complete the Half and Full Ironman
events. I am lucky enough to have a swimming and
running background, but I hadn’t focused much
on cycling, so that has been the toughest part for
me. But I can feel that the more I practice and get
confident on the bike, the more I am starting to
become stronger.
MA: Does leading races, and earning podium
finishes, spur you on to want to try even harder in
this new sport, and how are you feeling about your
shift to tri move now?
MA: Are you taking tri seriously now, i.e. getting JAC: I surprised myself with a podium finish in my
specialist coaching? Thinking of going pro? first triathlon. However, I don’t want to lose the love
for the sport and to put pressure on myself to perform
in every race. I would like to keep it fun.
JAC: I am training with the Embark group, but I
don’t have plans to go pro yet. I just want to enjoy the
races and have fun with friends.
MA: Your swimming strength put you in the lead
at both Clanwilliam and Slanghoek, but then you
were caught on the bike. Was that frustrating, or
were you more focused on the improvement in
your own performance?
JAC: Having a strong swimming background
definitely gives me an initial advantage, but you need
to be strong in all three disciplines to be a successful
triathlete. For now I know that the other girls will be
a lot stronger on the bike than me, as they have had
more experience, and I am more focused on my own
race and how I feel.
ISSUE 113 DECEMBER 2018 / www.modernathlete.co.za
MA: How do you fit in the training for three
disciplines instead of just one?
JAC: Being a beginner in triathlons, I like to have
variety in my training programme, so I alternate
between swimming, running and cycling in the week.
I focus a lot on my running and strength work to
maintain my fitness levels, and put in the extra hours
of cycling on the weekends.
MA: What’s next on the racing schedule for you?
JAC: With the 5150 tri in Port Elizabeth in
November out the way, my next big race will be the
70.3 in East London. Woop!
S
he’s swum at the Commonwealth Games,
World Champs and World University Games,
and still loves swimming, but this year Jessica
Ashley Cooper (26) has gone in search of a new
goal. That saw her join the Embark Training Group
in Cape Town and begin working towards her first tri
in early September, at the MiWayLife Cape Ultra at
Theewaterskloof Dam. However, due to the water only
being four degrees Celsius, the swim was cancelled
and the event turned into a duathlon, but in spite of
losing her the strongest of her three disciplines, Jess
managed a commendable fifth place overall and third
in her age category.