Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 56, March 2014 | Page 21

My Goal

On the Comeback Trail
After an unfortunate accident in training a few months ago,
which left her with a broken left elbow, top SA triathlete
Andrea Steyn has had to be patient while watching others
train and compete, but she’s just about ready to achieve her
goal of getting back to competitive form. – BY NICOLE DE VILLIERS

Tell us how you injured your arm.
My husband Wilhelm and I were on a training ride when
a pedestrian walked over the road and I went crashing,
shattering my elbow. It has been frustrating. I couldn’t
train the first two months after the accident. I have been
off now for four months and I am just getting back into
the flow of things. I can run and do indoor cycling, but I
am too stiff and sore to get into the water just yet.

What goals have you set for yourself once
you come back?
My next goal is the UK Ironman 70.3 in June, but it all
depends if I am able to swim by then. My more realistic
goal is the USA Hy-Vee 5150 Triathlon Final in August.

Your dad was a very good track athlete. Did
that influence your sporting career?
Yes, I would definitely say so! I started participating
in athletics and cross-country from the age of six and
developed to the point of competing at the SA Junior
Champs in the 1500m and 800m events. When I turned
15, I decided to take on a duathlon and borrowed my
Dad’s bike for the day. It was love at first ‘run and ride!’

Later you decided to try triathlon… what was
that transition like?
I have never really been a good swimmer. When I

started dating my husband, he was getting ready
for an Ironman event and asked me to go swimming
with him. I then entered my first triathlon and took it
from there. It was tough adjusting to triathlon from
a duathlon background, as my running and cycling
suffered a bit to start off with. It took me about eight
years to get a grip on the swimming and I still don’t
quite have it yet!

You have finished on the podium many
times, including the recent 5150 Bela Bela
and African Championship Triathlon and
2013 Potchefstroom ATU Duathlon African
Championships. Which of your many titles
stand out for you?
One of my most memorable events was the Triathlon
World Champs in Budapest, where I grabbed gold in
my age category, and I won the BSG National Triathlon
series seven times, which is also very special to me.
I have also been on the podium at several World
Duathlon Championships as an U/23 Elite. Last year
was a big year for me, as well: I got podium positions
in both the New Orleans and Kansas 5150 triathlon
events in the USA.

What was your hardest race?
Ironman 70.3 is definitely high on the list of
challenging races! When I did the race in 2012, I was
rather unprepared, which contributed to it being so
difficult. I will go back in 2015 well prepared.

Running appears to be your strongest leg,
followed by biking, where you often catch
up to the other girls who got away in the
swim…

Images: Courtesy Andrea Steyn

Yes, I love running, and try to run every day! I have
always been a runner and feel happy and comfortable
with the fact that it is the last stage in the race.

Given that swimming is not your strongest
discipline, do you prefer duathlon to
triathlon?

Andrea at last year’s New Orleans 5150 triathlon, where
she grabbed a podium position.

Initially duathlon was easier for me to do, but I have
become accustomed to triathlon in the last few years
and am really enjoying it. I have also found that I
prefer the non-drafting races, as I seem to make up a
faster time competing in them.

You work as a
physiotherapist.
Does this
compliment your
lifestyle, or does
it sometimes
become a bit too
much of the same
thing?
I would choose a sporting
background all over again,
as I am not an officebound person. My job also
allows me the flexi-time
to train as hard as I do.
The last few years I was
very lucky to work a lot
less and focus on almost
full-time training.

Is it easier being
married to a
fellow athlete who
understands your
training routines?
Yes, of course! We cycle
together every morning,
and Wilhelm is a big help
with my cycling. I have a
fantastic new swimming
coach, Michelle Vlasakova,
and running coach, Dion
Saayman, but he helps me
with my cycling.

What would you say
has contributed most to
your success in Multisport
events?

Doing
what
she
likes
best,
the run
leg.

I would say the support my family
as well as my husband gives me. My
sponsors also make things possible, because
without them I wouldn’t be able to compete overseas, so
I am extremely grateful to my main sponsor, PeptoSport,
as well as CycleLab, Suunto, Bolle, Tribe and KTM. Now
I just need to come back from this arm injury!

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