A PhD student at the University of Liverpool has taken part in the World Long Distance Triathlon Championships after qualifying to represent team Great Britain at the event.
Robert Hornby, who is a PhD student in the Institute of Translational Medicine, joined some of Britain’s top triathletes to represent the country in the ITU LD Triathlon World Championships in Belfort, France.
He is the second student at the University of Liverpool to qualify for team GB in endurance sport this year after Dave Collins – a PhD student in the Institute of Aging and Chronic Disease – took part in the ETU Powerman Sprint Distance Duathlon European Championships in the Netherlands.
After finishing 5th in his age group, Robert went on to take part in the Blenheim Sprint Triathlon earlier this month where he finished 17th out of 4,600 contestants. He is now working towards the Olympic Distance British Triathlon Championships in Liverpool on 13th July where he is hoping to qualify for the World Olympic Distance Championships in London later this year.
Commenting on his qualification he said: “Triathlon is a really rewarding sport and it’s fantastic to be selected as part of team GB.”
Triathlon is a multi-stage competition involving swimming, cycling and running. Robert qualified to represent Great Britain after taking part in a UK Ironman event – one of the toughest triathlons involving a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike and a 26.2 mile run.
Having previously been University swimming club captain and club president, alongside his involvement in local swimming club Leyland Barracudas, Robert started doing triathlons in 2010 and now trains at Sport Liverpool around his PhD work.
