Ana Bárbara, 54 years old, triathlete and trail runner.
Share
"I started playing sport when I was 39 years old, influenced by the excitement I saw in my children, whenever it was pool day. At that time, one was 9 and the other was 7, they started the competition and race weekend was synonymous with weekend party! When the club decided to create a Masters swimming team, my teacher invited me and I went there. I had never seen a swimming event but I was there at the National Short Course Championship! I loved the experience, for the sport and for the interaction healthy among all the participants of such different ages and backgrounds. I continued to swim and participate in different pool events until I did all the possible pool events! One day, in a championship, I managed the minimum time to qualify for a European championship! Wow! I, who in swimming have such humble origins, I come from maintenance, I ended up winning the possibility of participating in an international race! And I went to Rome to seek a unique experience! Swimming has the Open Water discipline, which I, couldn't resist to experiment. After all, I live by the sea! Swimming outdoors in nature makes us feel different! I then started training for longer distances, outside the tank. Open Water training involves more physical preparation, to achieve this, I started running and cycling. From here to getting to the trail and the triathlon was just a short hop! In 2018 I stumbled across a documentary about SwimRun and thought, I swim and run this is for me! I discovered my modality. SwimRun is a way of being in nature, of being part of two environments, it is a challenge, a healthy uncertainty. It’s about exploring our capabilities and limits. So, if one day, you look at a sport that you think is for you, open your arms and grab it, challenge yourself, you will see that you have everything to gain!"