Sam Turney, 16, is a student at Trinity School in Carlisle and in 2026 is set to represent Great Britain at two international athletic events in Abu Dhabi and Ponteverda.
First up for Sam will be a trip to Spain in September for the World Sprint Triathlon Championships which will see competitors take on a 750m swim, 20km bike, and 5km run.
The 16-year-old will then travel to the capital of the United Arab Emirates in November for the World Sprint Duathlon Championships which features a 7.5km of running and a 20km bike ride.
The opportunity to represent Great Britain is the latest achievement for the Carlisle teenager who first started competing across the North West of England when he was 13.
“Sam is very passionate, dedicated and committed to his sport,” Sam’s dad Paul Turney told the News & Star.
“His first love is Triathlon but he currently takes part in Duathlons, Aquathons, road races, cross country, and has recently started competing in swim galas for Carlisle Aquatics.
“Sam is very excited to be representing his country as it has been an ambition since he started competing and he is really looking forward to competing against the best triathletes from across the world.”
Sam guaranteed his place at these international with third place finishes at sprint triathlon and duathlon qualifiers in 2025.
He is now stepping up his preparations for an action-packed 2026, with a committed 16-hour-a-week training regime which is spilt into nine hours of swimming, three hours of running, three hours of biking, and an hour strength and conditioning.
“Sam’s training takes place in a mix of environments at Carlisle Junior Tri Club, Border Harriers, Carlisle Aquatics and Barrie Mark PT Gym, with some training being done on his own,” Paul said.
“Sam is lucky to have really good club coaches who all support him in any way they can.
“Sam also has Charlie Harding as a personal triathlon coach, Charlie competed in the Paris Olympics as a guide for Oscar Kelly with the pair finishing seventh overall.
Paul was also keen to express his pride in Sam’s achievements.
He said: “Me and Sam’s mum are incredibly proud of his achievements to date, not just the World Championships but his commitment and dedication to training, fitting in his schoolwork and his resilience.”