Hi, my name is Finlay, I am 17 years old, from England and am the current XTERRA Youth World Champion and British Triathlon Champion for road triathlon, and on the England Next Generation Squad for triathlon.
Having competed in triathlon and its disciplines my whole life, mountain biking and running from about 5, I’ve been able to pursue my passion of sports, now at a point where I focus most on triathlon, but race MTB XC within the summer alongside triathlon, also running cross country, which I've had multiple national top 10 results competing in and represented England in twice, plus I race some cyclocross over the triathlon off-season, during the winter.
I’ve progressed through competition to a point where I started racing in the national British Triathlon Super Series two years ago, and last year (2024) won my first National and World Championship titles, at the British Triathlon Champs (road) and XTERRA Youth World Champs, respectively.
This year I’m looking to qualify for the European Youth Triathlon Champs in Austria, and have already qualified and booked my spot again for the 2025 XTERRA Youth World Champs, in Italy this September.
XTERRA became a new opportunity last year with their first edition of the XTERRA Youth World Championship. It was great for me, considering I’ve been involved with mountain biking since I was very young, my love for racing off-road and being able to combine that within triathlon.
I’m also looking to expand my international racing this year, racing a Junior European Triathlon Cup as well as some XTERRA events in Europe, with potential events in places like France, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Austria, and Eastern Europe for the road Continental Cups.
Road triathlon is the Olympic sport, and XTERRA combines my passion for off-road racing and triathlon, so in the future I’m aspiring to do what I enjoy, professionally, competing at a World Class level across both, something I firmly believe I can achieve.
With a World and National title, my aim is to keep progressing whilst still enjoy what I’m doing. As this sport is something I am passionate about, I dedicate myself towards it, which now at 17 years old means the next step of racing for me is increasing my international competition opportunities, supporting my progression to compete with the best in the world.
In achieving these goals though, my hard work and dedication for sport isn’t enough to make some happen. As expected with racing further away from home and bigger competitions, nationally and internationally, costs of competing and training for racing can be a difficult hurdle.
Except only for getting out to a couple major championships if I qualify for them, like the World or European Champs, I receive no funding from a NGB to support costs, which I represent for racing Continental Junior Triathlon Cups and other international competitions, despite triathlon being a popular, well-known and Olympic sport.
Because of this I have to support the costs of competition, which includes things like race entries, accommodation and travelling to events, as well as equipment I need to compete such as a wetsuit, bike, shoes, clothing and specific kit for each discipline, and then on top of these things, the costs of training, facilities I use like a pool and nutrition, which are necessities I need in order to train for racing.
The cost of sport has shown it can be a barrier for me at times, not being able to do some competitions, attend training camps and miss out on training sometimes, where I need to go to a specific place like a pool.
Both funding support and sponsors help me massively, yet any support I receive I am immensely grateful for as it supports me in my progression through sport, helping me get out to more high level national and international competition, as well as supporting necessary costs of racing, equipment and training.
I look forward to the opportunities the future holds and the chance that I can perform and go far in a sport I love.
Thanks for taking the time to read my story,
Finlay
Website -
https://finlaygoodmantriathlon.uk/ 