Paula George

I started a long swimming career when I was 12 and enjoyed training and competing and the healthy lifestyle it provided. I competed at national level and enjoyed success at the endurance events of 800m and 400m freestyle, 400 individual medley and 200m butterfly.

I also competed at biathlon becoming national champion aged 17. When my swimming career finished, I qualified as a swim teacher and realised the joy that giving back to a sport can give. I enjoyed helping people to achieve in the pool. I developed my own swim school where I taught swimmers of all ages. Whilst developing the school I studied and qualified as a personal trainer.

I have enjoyed keeping fit through my life and after running the London Marathon in 2000 I entered my first triathlon. I fell in love with the sport and soon after began my coaching journey.

Since 2000 I have competed at GB AG level at World and European Championships both at standard and long course distance. I realised that I enjoyed Ironman distance racing and to date have completed 6, together with a Kona qualification after winning my AG at IM Lanzarote. I have been a L3 coach since 2008 and have worked both as Head Coach at VO2 Maximum and with individual clients. My clients have ranged from novice triathletes to national and world champions.

When I work with individual triathletes I work closely with them to reach their goals. However, I believe it is important to be aware of their life commitments and plan training to ensure that triathlon has a balanced place in their lives. I like to challenge my athletes and work collaboratively with them. I encourage them to have input into their training planning process as I think it is important that athletes take ownership of their training. I commit to creating the most effective plan for my athletes but find that the best results come from good communication between coach and athlete around the programme.

• Racing

• 6 x Ironman Finisher
• Kona Qualifier
• European Long Course Triathlon Championship Silver Medallist
• Represented Great Britain at the European, World Triathlon Championships
• National AG Standard Distance Silver medallist
• 4th in AG Alpe D’Huez Long Course Triathlon
• Former national level swimmer
• 2 x marathon finishes
• Multiple 10km races
• Time trials

Qualifications

• British Triathlon level 3 Coach
• British Triathlon Kaizen Coach
• Ironman Certified Coach
• British Cycling Level 2 Coach
• ASA Swim Teacher Level 2
• NLP Master Practitioner
• Personal Training Level 3