Michael Taylor is a University of Bath-based athlete hoping to be swimming in the Seine this summer – as well as running and cycling the streets of Paris.
Speaking to Somerset Life in June, the Barnstaple-born para-triathlete – who lives in Bristol and trains in Bath three to four times a week – was in a strong position to qualify for his second Paralympics, having previously travelled to Tokyo for the delayed 2020 Games. ‘At the time of speaking to you, there's still three more races left in the qualification period,’ says Michael. ‘I need to be in the top nine by the end of the month and I'm currently sat in sixth.’
A keen sportsman, who particularly loved playing rugby, Michael suffered an infection in 2016 when he was just 19-years-old that led to a below-the-knee amputation. That same year, he watched Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee take gold and silver and Vicky Holland claim bronze for Great Britain in the Olympic triathlon in Rio while Andrew Lewis, Lauren Steadman, Alison Patrick and Melissa Reid all medalled in the paratriathlon at the Paralympics. Inspired by what he had seen, Michael signed up for a ‘taster day’ organised by British Triathlon in February 2017 that eventually led to him joining the British Paratriathlon performance squad in November 2019 and competing at the Paralympics in the summer of 2021
.‘After my injury, I really missed the social side of team sport and being able to push myself in sport,’ recalls Michael. ‘Triathlon seemed like a good challenge and a good opportunity to meet interesting people. I thought I could push myself towards it and it became a bit of a goal.’
Michael finished eighth on his Paralympic debut in Rio with a time of 1:08:11. ‘I went out a bit too hard and blew up,” smiles Michael, reflecting on his race performance. ‘I was fortunate enough to go to Tokyo, but obviously the protocols around Covid meant it wasn't quite the same as a Paralympic Games normally would be. It's left me wanting more and it’s exciting knowing my friends and family would be able to come to Paris. It feels like a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I’m just hoping I can seal my qualification.’
The facilities at the University of Bath combined with the outdoor environment around Bristol, Somerset and the West Country as a whole is proving the perfect training setting for his hopeful appearance in Paris this summer. ‘I'm based in Bath at the triathlon centre and I cycle and run around Bristol, where I live, on the days I’m not in Bath,’ comments Michael. ‘There’s such a good squad to train with at the University and that helps push you that bit harder. There are some great facilities. You are able to use the 50-metre pool, you have the running track and the gym is world class. You’re often swimming alongside the British swimming guys and you see how quick they are. That also provides motivation, seeing them pushing themselves.
‘In terms of open water swimming, I’ve been back to Devon, where I’m originally from, a few times and swam at Woolacombe and Westward Ho! There are also some lakes on the outskirts of Bristol like Cromhall Quarry and West Country Water Park. I've been swimming at the Water Park regularly for a while now. It's relatively shallow there, so the water warms up quite quickly. And the staff there have been really helpful. They let me set my bike on the side, so I can go and do a swim and then practice doing a transition to the bike.
‘When I'm in Bristol, I often cycle towards Cheddar Gorge, Weston, the Mendips, the Somerset Levels etc. And if I go north with some of my friends, we often get up to the Cotswolds. I’m really fortunate the range of riding I can do around here. And the Portway in Bristol is my main place for cycling because it's nice and flat. I often run there too. With a running blade, I find it a bit difficult running off-road sometimes, so a nice flat bit of tarmac is perfect for me!’
