Newcastle teacher hopes to defend his paratriathlon title at British Grand Final in Sunderland

A paratriathlon champion and Newcastle teacher Mike Salisbury hopes to defend his title when the 2022 British Triathlon Grand Final comes to the North East this summer.

The Dame Allan’s School geography teacher and Assistant Head of Sixth Form, who competes internationally, welcomed the news that Sunderland will host the major triathlon event in August.

Mike won gold within the PTS5 classification at last year’s Grand Final, held at Mallory Park, Leicestershire, in September.

He also came out on top at the British Paratriathlon Championships and represented Great Britain at the World Triathlon Para Cup in Portugal last winter.

This year’s Grand Final, at the end of the triathlon season, will bring together top UK athletes from the youth and junior, senior and Paratri British Triathlon Super Series to compete along the seafront of Sunderland.

Mike said: “This is a really high-profile event and I’m delighted it will be hosted in the North East, not least because I will be able to go to Sunderland and train in the run up to the Grand Final!

“This will give me the slight advantage of familiarising myself with Sunderland’s roads, and swimming in the sea there, so I’ll learn about the water conditions and just feel more comfortable in the environment.”

Mike, who was born with a congenital limb defect to his left arm, has trained throughout winter, but suffered a setback in January when knocked off his bike at Whitley Bay.

A fracture to his elbow meant he was unable to run, cycle or swim for almost four weeks.

He has recently been able to resume training in preparation for the British Triathlon Paratri Super Series ‘Duathlon Championships’ in Prestwold in April.

Mike competes within the PTS5 paratriathlon