Triathlete Aisha Nasser hopes to lower her personal best time during the African Triathlon Cup set for November 26 in Kilifi.
Her current personal best stands at 1:13:26. Nasser is also optimistic she will gain points which will catapult her in the world ranking and increase her chances of securing a slot for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“This time around, I want to go below 1:10:00 and emerge top in my category because this will help me to gain points. I want to compete at the Olympics because it feels good to represent my country on such a big stage,” Nasser said.
She added balancing training and school work has been her greatest challenge but she is trying her best to ensure she has enough time to train.
“I have been training at least twice a day to ensure I work on my weak areas. I also have exams and I must make time studying. I’m in my fourth year of High School and it hasn’t been easy,” she said.
Nasser said she looks up to the 2020 Olympic triathlon champion Flora Duffy and Daniela Ryf. She said Duffy and Ryf always play well and they have never given up despite the tough times.
“I want to be like them (Duffy and Ryf). I got a chance to meet Duffy at the Commonwealth Games and it was a really great experience,” she said, adding that she was debuting at the Club Games where she learned a lot.
She added that she is looking to participate at the African Cup in December to be held in Dakhla, Morocco. “If my schedule won't be that tight with school work, I will be more than glad to compete in Morocco,” she said.
Nasser lamented that the sport is not well marketed as it should be. She said they receive little support and there is no competition locally.
“Many people don’t know the sport because it is not well marketed as it should be. Also, we do not receive enough support. There is very little exposure and less competition,” she said.
She said the sport has enabled her to learn a lot, from how to handle failure to some of the hacks to excel. “Whenever I miss a target, I always tell myself there’s a next time. Every day, there is something new I get to learn,” she concluded.
