A gifted young triathlete has lost motivation for competing after suffering multiple injury setbacks.
Matilde Blagden, 18, had been getting regular lung infections as a result of what she described as ‘over training’.
Blagden successfully qualified to compete for Great Britain in the World Triathlon Age-Group Championships and Super Series, both in Spain, in October 2024.
She was the youngest competitor in the sprint-distance events.
Blagden placed in the mid-pack against around 200 people.
The Brit, who also has Norwegian heritage, started her sporting journey with swimming at the age of nine.
At 15 years old she realised that she could take her fitness to a whole new level, building from swimming to running and cycling.
She joined the triathlon academy of Ludsborough College in 2025.
Blagden said: “I went there to get better and improve for myself, both physically and mentally.”
But Blagden didn’t feel that she got better.
She said: “I just didn’t have the dedication and consistency they did, so my training just dropped and I ended up training more by myself.”
She has decided to compete less and just runs for fun.
She had been training up to eight times a week but had to slow down after advice from doctors in 2025.
Blagden said: “My progress has definitely dipped but from when I started to where I am now, it’s been maybe three years of proper training.”
She added: “I’ve had my ups and downs, especially when the season changes.”
Blagden says she might want to make a return to triathlons full time in the future.
She added: “But at the moment, I just want to train to keep fit and then see where it takes me.”
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