TAVISTOCK triathlete Hannah Smith has achieved major success in her first international competition, securing a second place at the Triathlon World Championships in Spain at the weekend.

Representing Team GB, Hannah competed in the 25-29 age category in the aquathlon (swim and run) event against 70 other competitors from 35 countries and finished just 14 seconds behind the world champion. The course consisted of open water and a mix of off-road, hills and tarmac-based terrain.

Hannah travelled to El Anillo last Thursday, trained on Friday and competed on Saturday. She told the Times as she landed back in Britain on Monday: ‘I can’t believe it — to podium in second place at my first international is unbelievable.’

Hannah’s teammate Emily Young took bronze in the competition.

Hannah originally qualified for the event two years ago in the 20-24 category but it was postponed due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and was only confirmed to be going ahead at short notice in September. Having turned 25 in October, this just pushed Hannah into the next age bracket.

This spectacular result automatically pre-qualifies Hannah for the Aquathlon World Championships 2022 in Abu Dhabi alongside her qualification for the aquathlon and triathlon races in the European Championships in Bilbao, Spain which are also next year.

This year Hannah has competed in the Plymouth Half Marathon, the Weymouth Iron Man, the Tavistock Triathlon and the London Marathon, the latter of which she finished in three hours and 24 minutes, automatically banking her a place for next year.

Hannah trains locally with Tavistock Run Project, Tavistock Triathlon Club and Tavistock Wheelers. ‘I’d like to express a huge thank you to Meadowlands and Mount Kelly Swim Centre for use of their gym and swim facilities to train,’ said Hannah ‘also to my sponsors Ben Sharland and Tavistock Round Table, Tavistock Hire Centre, Plymouth BMW and my friends and family. ‘The opportunity to compete at this level and race internationally would not have been possible without their support and fundraising.’