Sally Pilbeam

Started: She was involved in triathlon prior to having her arm amputated. She began running soon after her rehabilitation and began competing in Para triathlon in 2012. "I remember what it was like to not be able to run two kilometres and to be completely scared of a 300 metre swim and not know how to ride a bike. Swimming is what has always come naturally to me, even after I lost my arm." (The March Charge Facebook page, 08 Feb 2016; thewest.com.au, 12 Oct 2015; 9 News Perth Facebook page, 04 Oct 2015; watoday.com.au, 10 Sep 2014) Reason: She was inspired by her father, Peter Hall, who was a triathlete. "My dad has been involved in triathlon since the beginning, so it was something I was part of as a teenager. After having my boys, I decided to have another go to see if I could still participate after losing my arm. To be honest I never intended to become a Para triathlete. I remember arriving at the first national championships in Penrith, NSW, Australia, in 2013 and feeling so out of my depth. But I just kept setting short-term goals and improving each time." (triwa.com.au, 08 Mar 2022; insidethegames.biz, 29 Sep 2020; thewest.com.au, 12 Oct 2015) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (AusTriathlon Facebook page, 14 Mar 2024) Awards: She was presented with the Female Individual Performance of the Year Award at the 2023/24 Triathlon Western Australia Annual Awards in Australia. (triwa.com.au, 27 May 2024) She received the Female Individual Performance of the Year and Female Para Triathlete of the Year awards at the 2016 Triathlon Western Australia Annual Awards in Australia. (Facebook page, 19 Jun 2016) Additional Info: BREAK AND RETURN In July 2020 she announced that she was taking time away from the sport. She returned to Para triathlon in late 2021. "I ended up stepping away and going back to work full-time. I don't think I ever used the word retirement, but I think it was assumed and I did think it was all over. I had the mindset that I'd done some amazing things and I'm happy with what I achieved. I never thought that I'd be doing this. The way that it's happened, having that break and coming back with the knowledge of what it's going to take, I'm just really enjoying it. I love training and racing, but it certainly helps when you've got a motivation there that's realistic." (paralympic.org.au, 17 Aug 2023; insidethegames.biz, 29 Sep 2020; Instagram profile, 12 Jul 2020; thewest.com.au, 11 Jun 2019) OTHER ACTIVITIES In 2018 she was appointed as a member of the International Triathlon Union [ITU] Athletes' Committee. (insidethegames.biz, 29 Sep 2020)

Sporting Relatives: Her husband Matthew served as a handler for Australian Para triathlete Nic Beveridge at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (Instagram profile, 27 Aug 2021)