GO GOLD Athlete of the Week: Ben Dijkstra

From the rain scattered streets of Charnwood to the sun soaked sands of Mexico, it's not a standard journey for most.

But for Ben Dijkstra, it's been the next step in an already impressive Triathlon career.

The GO GOLD funded athlete, who is Athlete of the Week, has already taken part across the world in World Championships, a far cry from his training sessions in the heart of Leicestershire.

"It's incredible to get where I have done and I'm really fortunate to get the opportunities that I've had. Being able to progress from the smaller local races in Charnwood to international races has been a great experience and I've loved every second of it. So far I've done two World Triathlon Championships, one in Chicago and the other in Mexico last year. I also did a World Duathlon Championships in Australia and European Championships in Geneva, so they're the main ones that I've competed in. You do get fairly well travelled from being a triathlete!"

Making the step up from junior to senior sport can be daunting no matter the level, but Dijkstra is one of the most promising young triathletes in the world and as such, that transition is just that bit harder.

"This year I've had a few senior races and there is a big step up from junior to senior racing. All three disciplines get a lot harder as the quality of the field increases, so you need to raise your standard. I think that step up is the biggest challenge I'll face over the next few years. But I am excited for it and we'll see what it holds."

Unlike most other sports, triathlon uses a mixture of three different disciplines. For Dijkstra, that means plenty of training in the pool, on the bike and running.

"It's usually about 25 hours of training a week that I do. That's split between 7 ½ hours of swimming, 10-12 hours of riding and the rest being running. It's non-stop but I really love what I do.

"I'm from a running background but I also used to do a fair bit of mountain bike riding with my dad too. It became a national progression really and then I just thought, well how hard can the swim be? Well that turned out to be a bit harder than I thought and I struggled with that to start with, but now it's at a good enough standard to match the rest of the race."

Unsurprisingly, he has eyes for the top of the triathlon ladder, with the Olympics the main aim. But unlike other nations, any upcoming triathletes in Britain have two of the finest role models in the world.

"Naturally I look up to the Brownlee brothers (Alistair and Jonny) because they are fantastic athletes who are at the pinnacle of the international triathlon stage. The commitment and dedication that they have towards triathlon is fantastic. And then there's Jodie Stimpson who trains with us in Leicester, she's a great role model to have. She's a great training partner to have because she's so uplifting. It's good to have that inspiration."

Travelling across the globe and buying fresh equipment naturally costs quite a bit but for Dijkstra, GO GOLD has helped him to truly chase his dreams.

"Without the help of GO GOLD, I wouldn't be in the position I'm in. Triathlon is an expensive sport and the funding has really helped me get into this position and helped me get to races. GO GOLD has provided me with all these opportunities. Whether it be kit or nutrition, the funding is vital and has helped me push on to the next level."

To find out more about Ben's progress, follow his blog at http://www.lrsport.org/profiles/ben-dijkstra.