TRIATHLETE Clinton Gravett, 25, fresh off his high-point second place in the SA Triathlon Championships in East London in March, has become the first East London man to compete as an elite or professional in Africa and beyond.
The 2013 honours graduate in human movement science from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University designed his triathlon programme with help from former German professional triathlete Arnd Schomburg, 49, which got him a personal best of 2:09:51 behind Ironman elite athlete Brad Venter at the SA championships.
Gravett is the first senior male athlete in East London to achieve elite status in the Olympic distance (1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run) and joins three other East Londoners who were also first to join the elite category, senior women’s elite Cindy Schwulst, 23, and juniors Clinton Gravett and Wikus Saunders.
He explained that the first two amateur athletes to win at the SA Triathlon Champions were granted elite status, with the provision that the athlete who came second had to finish within 2% of the winning amateur.
In his case, the winner, Venter, was an Ironman professional and used the SA Championships as a training event for Ironman the next month.
Gravett said he spent up to five hours a day training and has next goal was the Ironman franchise-organised 5150 Bela Bela Olympic triathlon in Limpopo on August 23.
“I’d be really happy with a top-five finish,” said the wiry 67kg Nahoon resident.
Clinton, who matriculated from Selborne College in 2006, said he and his brother Dylan started training for their first Ironman 70.3 in the city in 2007 where he was 49th off the bike and finished in 5:17, “all of which came as a total surprise”.
Triathlon has flowed from surfing. A goofy-footer, he started representing Border from the age of eight, taking part in 15 SA Championships and coming second three times to current SA WCT star Jordy Smith. Last year he came seventh in the prestigious open division.
As a runner, Gravett was the first surfer home in the Discovery Surfers’ Challenge on five runs and came overall 12th in 2008.
His first triathlon result as a 19-year-old in 2006 led to his selection for Border Invitational to take part in the SA Triathlon Championships.
A campaigner on the cutthroat World Qualifying Series international surf circuit, he said he returned from competing in Brazil and the very next day came eighth in his 20-24 age group of the SA Triathlon.
This qualified him for selection for the SA Triathlon Team (20-24) and he took part in the World Triathlon Championships in Canada in 2008.
While on the rugged WQS in 2007-8 he surfed in 14 competitions, which took him to Australia to Scotland, Portugal, Spain, France, Canary Islands and Brazil.
“Life on the tour was like being a student without digs. Sometimes home was the airport or the floor of a surfer mate’s bedroom. I always just missed sleeping on the beach thanks to the generosity of surfers around the world ...
“Surfing is always dependent on the mood of the sea, wind and judges, but triathlon is the same for everyone. It comes down to mental and physical preparation.
“My long-term vision is to race on the international professional circuit in the Olympics, but it’s expensive to travel and train ...
“I will give it my best shot for a year and see where I go.
“Right now my run is my weaker discipline. Every time I run I focus on my form and I know it will improve.” — mikel@dispatch.co.za
EL star steps into elite club
The 2013 honours graduate in human movement science from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University designed his triathlon programme with help from former German professional triathlete Arnd Schomburg, 49, which got him a personal best of 2:09:51 behind Ironman elite athlete Brad Venter at the SA championships.
Gravett is the first senior male athlete in East London to achieve elite status in the Olympic distance (1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run) and joins three other East Londoners who were also first to join the elite category, senior women’s elite Cindy Schwulst, 23, and juniors Clinton Gravett and Wikus Saunders.
He explained that the first two amateur athletes to win at the SA Triathlon Champions were granted elite status, with the provision that the athlete who came second had to finish within 2% of the winning amateur.
In his case, the winner, Venter, was an Ironman professional and used the SA Championships as a training event for Ironman the next month.
Gravett said he spent up to five hours a day training and has next goal was the Ironman franchise-organised 5150 Bela Bela Olympic triathlon in Limpopo on August 23.
“I’d be really happy with a top-five finish,” said the wiry 67kg Nahoon resident.
Clinton, who matriculated from Selborne College in 2006, said he and his brother Dylan started training for their first Ironman 70.3 in the city in 2007 where he was 49th off the bike and finished in 5:17, “all of which came as a total surprise”.
Triathlon has flowed from surfing. A goofy-footer, he started representing Border from the age of eight, taking part in 15 SA Championships and coming second three times to current SA WCT star Jordy Smith. Last year he came seventh in the prestigious open division.
As a runner, Gravett was the first surfer home in the Discovery Surfers’ Challenge on five runs and came overall 12th in 2008.
His first triathlon result as a 19-year-old in 2006 led to his selection for Border Invitational to take part in the SA Triathlon Championships.
A campaigner on the cutthroat World Qualifying Series international surf circuit, he said he returned from competing in Brazil and the very next day came eighth in his 20-24 age group of the SA Triathlon.
This qualified him for selection for the SA Triathlon Team (20-24) and he took part in the World Triathlon Championships in Canada in 2008.
While on the rugged WQS in 2007-8 he surfed in 14 competitions, which took him to Australia to Scotland, Portugal, Spain, France, Canary Islands and Brazil.
“Life on the tour was like being a student without digs. Sometimes home was the airport or the floor of a surfer mate’s bedroom. I always just missed sleeping on the beach thanks to the generosity of surfers around the world ...
“Surfing is always dependent on the mood of the sea, wind and judges, but triathlon is the same for everyone. It comes down to mental and physical preparation.
“My long-term vision is to race on the international professional circuit in the Olympics, but it’s expensive to travel and train ...
“I will give it my best shot for a year and see where I go.
“Right now my run is my weaker discipline. Every time I run I focus on my form and I know it will improve.” — mikel@dispatch.co.za
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