With PTVI (partially sighted) European and world titles to her name, her phenomenal prowess in the water has been the foundation of her long-ranging success.<\/p>\n
Who is Melissa Reid?<\/strong><\/h2>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Reid\u2019s also well known as a para surf champion (Credit: Bryn Lennon\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nBorn in Nottingham but raised in Falmouth, partially sighted Reid has amassed an extremely strong palmares since first stepping onto an ITU paratriathlon podium way back in 2011 at the age of 20.<\/p>\n
Having started out in para-aquathlon (at which she was world champion no fewer than four times), Reid\u2019s strongest triathlon season \u2013 her most decorated, at least \u2013 was 2013, when she did the double, scooping both the paratriathlon ETU European and ITU World titles.<\/p>\n
Since then, though, there have been plenty of notable performances. For starters, there was the bronze she won at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, which she followed the year after by regaining the paratriathlon European crown.<\/p>\n
More recently, there have been a couple of paratriathlon World Cup golds, while appearances on ITU podiums have been a constant fixture of her career. Reid is one of the most consistent paratriathletes around.<\/p>\n
Her world-conquering prowess doesn\u2019t end with multisport. Raised as a Cornwall beach baby, Reid can also boast being a three-time world para surfing champion. Truly an athlete for all seasons.<\/p>\n - Claire Cashmore on training, Paralympics and making paratri more accessible<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- Britain\u2019s pioneering approach to alite paratriathlon training<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>
<\/p><\/div> <\/section>
How old is Melissa Reid?<\/strong><\/h2>\nMelissa Reid was born on 15 November 1990, making her 31 years of age.<\/p>\n
Melissa Reid\u2019s career highlights<\/strong><\/h2>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Reid races with a guide in the PTVI paratri class (Credit: Jordan Mansfield\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nAugust 2011: A first ITU podium place<\/strong><\/h3>\nReid makes her breakthrough when the ITU World Championship Series pitches up in London. Competing on home (ish) turf, she takes silver in the TRI-6 category.<\/p>\n
October 2012: A maiden multisport world title<\/strong><\/h3>\nAt the age of 21, Reid travels to Auckland where she takes paratri (TRI-6) gold at the ITU Aquathlon world championships. She retains the title the following year in London, before two further world crowns in the event in Edmonton in 2014 and Chicago in 2015.<\/p>\n
June 2013: Reid\u2019s first major triathlon crown<\/strong><\/h3>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> For the bike leg, Reid takes the back seat of a tandem which her guide steers (Credit: Nobuo Yano\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nIn the Turkish resort of Alanya, Reid takes gold at the ETU Triathlon European championships. She\u2019s now officially Europe\u2019s best female triathlete in the TRI-6b category (previous classification referring to visually impaired).<\/p>\n
September 2013: A world-conquering performance in the capital<\/strong><\/h3>\nBack on the streets of her happy hunting-ground of London, Reid upgrades her European crown for a world championship one.<\/p>\n
She wins comfortably, finishing more than two minutes ahead of the silver medallist, Spain\u2019s Susana Rodriguez. Reid\u2019s compatriot Charlotte Ellis takes the bronze.<\/p>\n
- Melissa Reid and Andy Lewis take paratriathlon bronze in Madrid<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>
September 2016: Taking her place on the Paralympic podium<\/strong><\/h3>\nAfter a few seasons of consistent paratri podium places in both ITU and ETU events, hopes are high in Rio<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\nAlthough the ultimate glory proves elusive, Reid does at least return to Cornwall with a medal in her luggage, having taking paratri bronze behind Australia\u2019s Katie Kelly<\/a><\/strong> and her GB team-mate Alison Peasgood.<\/p>\nJune 2017: A second European title<\/strong><\/h3>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Reid is attached to her guide by a tether during the run and swim sections (Credit: Adam Pretty\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nFour years after first being crowned European champion, Reid returns to the throne when she beats all-comers in the PTVI category in Kitzb\u00fchel.<\/p>\n
She coolly holds off the threat of Susana Rodriguez and Lena Dieter, while fellow Brit Alison Peasgood, who beat her at the Paralympics nine months earlier, finishes in fourth.<\/p>\n
June 2019: Twin World Cup victories<\/strong><\/h3>\nHaving missed an entire season due to a prolapsed disc, Reid returns to competition in imperious form.<\/p>\n
She takes the win at the ITU Paratriathlon World Cup in Besancon in eastern France, following up with another win the following month at the series event in Magog in Canada.<\/p>\n
August 2021: Tokyo 2020 Paralympics<\/strong><\/h3>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Reid finished seventh at Tokyo 2020 (Credit: Lintao Zhang\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nReid comes up against tough competition along the futuristic race course around Tokyo\u2019s Odaiba Park. She holds onto a top-10 finish, though, achieving seventh place overall in the PTVI class<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\nMelissa Reid quotes<\/strong><\/h2>\nOn refusing to let being visually impaired be a barrier to success: \u201cSport was a big influence in my upbringing. As soon as someone tried to exclude me \u2013 \u2018Oh, you need to go over there with the other kids who are visually impaired\u2019 \u2013 I just gave them the finger and said I wasn\u2019t going to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
On finding the positives of the pandemic: \u201cIn lockdown, our village has been empty, whereas normally it\u2019s quite touristy. So training was really enjoyable, being able to run over the coastal path and not come across anybody.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the differences between the Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016 and those in Tokyo five years later: \u201cThe competition has definitely improved from last time. A lot of girls have stepped up their game and there are quite a few newcomers to the sport. It\u2019s really good to see the sport grow.\u201d<\/p>\n
What\u2019s next for Melissa Reid?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/34\/2022\/07\/meet-melissa-reid-269051d.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Born in Nottingham but raised in Falmouth, partially sighted Reid has amassed an extremely strong palmares since first stepping onto an ITU paratriathlon podium way back in 2011 at the age of 20.<\/p>\n
Having started out in para-aquathlon (at which she was world champion no fewer than four times), Reid\u2019s strongest triathlon season \u2013 her most decorated, at least \u2013 was 2013, when she did the double, scooping both the paratriathlon ETU European and ITU World titles.<\/p>\n
Since then, though, there have been plenty of notable performances. For starters, there was the bronze she won at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, which she followed the year after by regaining the paratriathlon European crown.<\/p>\n
More recently, there have been a couple of paratriathlon World Cup golds, while appearances on ITU podiums have been a constant fixture of her career. Reid is one of the most consistent paratriathletes around.<\/p>\n
Her world-conquering prowess doesn\u2019t end with multisport. Raised as a Cornwall beach baby, Reid can also boast being a three-time world para surfing champion. Truly an athlete for all seasons.<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> <\/section> Melissa Reid was born on 15 November 1990, making her 31 years of age.<\/p>\n Reid makes her breakthrough when the ITU World Championship Series pitches up in London. Competing on home (ish) turf, she takes silver in the TRI-6 category.<\/p>\n At the age of 21, Reid travels to Auckland where she takes paratri (TRI-6) gold at the ITU Aquathlon world championships. She retains the title the following year in London, before two further world crowns in the event in Edmonton in 2014 and Chicago in 2015.<\/p>\n In the Turkish resort of Alanya, Reid takes gold at the ETU Triathlon European championships. She\u2019s now officially Europe\u2019s best female triathlete in the TRI-6b category (previous classification referring to visually impaired).<\/p>\n Back on the streets of her happy hunting-ground of London, Reid upgrades her European crown for a world championship one.<\/p>\n She wins comfortably, finishing more than two minutes ahead of the silver medallist, Spain\u2019s Susana Rodriguez. Reid\u2019s compatriot Charlotte Ellis takes the bronze.<\/p>\n After a few seasons of consistent paratri podium places in both ITU and ETU events, hopes are high in Rio<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Although the ultimate glory proves elusive, Reid does at least return to Cornwall with a medal in her luggage, having taking paratri bronze behind Australia\u2019s Katie Kelly<\/a><\/strong> and her GB team-mate Alison Peasgood.<\/p>\n Four years after first being crowned European champion, Reid returns to the throne when she beats all-comers in the PTVI category in Kitzb\u00fchel.<\/p>\n She coolly holds off the threat of Susana Rodriguez and Lena Dieter, while fellow Brit Alison Peasgood, who beat her at the Paralympics nine months earlier, finishes in fourth.<\/p>\n Having missed an entire season due to a prolapsed disc, Reid returns to competition in imperious form.<\/p>\n She takes the win at the ITU Paratriathlon World Cup in Besancon in eastern France, following up with another win the following month at the series event in Magog in Canada.<\/p>\n Reid comes up against tough competition along the futuristic race course around Tokyo\u2019s Odaiba Park. She holds onto a top-10 finish, though, achieving seventh place overall in the PTVI class<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n On refusing to let being visually impaired be a barrier to success: \u201cSport was a big influence in my upbringing. As soon as someone tried to exclude me \u2013 \u2018Oh, you need to go over there with the other kids who are visually impaired\u2019 \u2013 I just gave them the finger and said I wasn\u2019t going to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n On finding the positives of the pandemic: \u201cIn lockdown, our village has been empty, whereas normally it\u2019s quite touristy. So training was really enjoyable, being able to run over the coastal path and not come across anybody.\u201d<\/p>\n On the differences between the Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016 and those in Tokyo five years later: \u201cThe competition has definitely improved from last time. A lot of girls have stepped up their game and there are quite a few newcomers to the sport. It\u2019s really good to see the sport grow.\u201d<\/p>\nHow old is Melissa Reid?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Melissa Reid\u2019s career highlights<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/34\/2022\/07\/melissa-reid-career-highlights-11a91c7.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>August 2011: A first ITU podium place<\/strong><\/h3>\n
October 2012: A maiden multisport world title<\/strong><\/h3>\n
June 2013: Reid\u2019s first major triathlon crown<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/34\/2022\/07\/Melissa-Reid-paralympian-abdd40d.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>September 2013: A world-conquering performance in the capital<\/strong><\/h3>\n
September 2016: Taking her place on the Paralympic podium<\/strong><\/h3>\n
June 2017: A second European title<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/34\/2022\/07\/Melissa-Reid-wins-second-european-title-fab683c.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>June 2019: Twin World Cup victories<\/strong><\/h3>\n
August 2021: Tokyo 2020 Paralympics<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/34\/2022\/07\/melissa-reid-seventh-at-tokyo-2020-8c58acf.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Melissa Reid quotes<\/strong><\/h2>\n
What\u2019s next for Melissa Reid?<\/strong><\/h2>\n