Triathlon: Nick Baldwin gets ready for second pro season |07 January 2014

Seychelles first ever professional triathlete Nick Baldwin has begun preparation for the new triathlon season which he launched at the National Sports Council (NSC) conference room yesterday.

Seated alongside representatives of his sponsors, as well as Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports Minister Vincent Meriton, sports principal secretary Denis Rose and NSC chief executive Giovanna Rousseau, Baldwin was grateful for the help and support he has received from his sponsors.

“This is my eighth season in the sport and only my second year as a professional. I wish to continue to compete at a high level to repay the faith shown in me by my sponsors,” the 25-year-old said.

“2013 was a big step in my triathlon career, making the transition from being an amateur to become a professional. Thanks to the support of my fantastic sponsors, I was able to compete in a number of high profile events against some of the best triathletes in the world,” he added.

Baldwin is sponsored by local companies ISPC, Air Seychelles, Vijay Construction and Eden Island Marina. They all agreed that Baldwin has indeed repaid their faith with his performances in 2013 and look forward to better these results this year.

Minister Meriton said: “It is always a pleasure to see a Seychellois excel at international level and it is something that should inspire other youths to achieve the same level in other sports.”

He also called on representatives of the companies that sponsor Baldwin to help in other disciplines as well as the country prepares to defend its colours at next year’s Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) in Reunion.

Baldwin had a very good first season as a professional, getting two first place finishes in the Boskman Triathlon and the Abu Dhabi Triathlon.

His best result was a fourth place finish in the Ironman Copenhagen where he competed against the world’s best in the sport.

“I am hugely motivated to continue to improve in 2014 and there are a number of key races I will be targeting. At 25 years old, I am still a young professional, but I still set myself challenging goals, which I think is the key to continue improving,” Baldwin added.

He will leave the country next week where he will commence his training in Arizona, USA ahead of his first major race of the season which is the Ironman Australia on May 4.

S. N.