Anja Renner

Started: She did her first triathlon in 2016, and began competing in Para triathlon in 2023. (triathlonbayern.de, 03 Dec 2023; Instagram profile, 26 Sep 2023) Reason: "I didn't start triathlon until I was 30 years old. My boyfriend at the time, now husband, was competing in a few Ironman races when we met. This motivated me to start triathlon myself. I was very fascinated by the combination of several sports in one race. I decided at the end of 2019 not to take part in any more races as an age group athlete, but I continued to train for myself. The first [Para triathlon] race was very emotional for me. It was the first triathlon after a four-year break, and I couldn't really believe that a new opportunity had opened up for me to race again." (triathlonbayern.de, 03 Dec 2023) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (Instagram profile, 14 Dec 2023) Additional Info: SWITCH TO PARA TRIATHLON She previously competed in non-Para triathlon and Ironman events up until 2019. She took a four-year break from the sport before she began competing in Para triathlon in 2023. "The biggest challenge for me was riding a tandem bicycle, as it makes a big difference whether you steer the bike yourself. Since I've ridden a lot on horses that weren't always easy in the past, skydived several times, and sat on the back of fast motorcycle tours, I'm perhaps a little more intrepid when it comes to trusting others and trusting certain speeds. But you also quickly notice whether the pilot can steer the bike safely or not." (triathlonbayern.de, 03 Dec 2023)