Greg Billington is currently on the USA Triathlon Project 2016 Squad and is coached by Paul Sousa.

GREG BILLINGTON is an American professional triathlete who first got passionate about the sport when living in the UK. He grew up in a quaint English village with a population of ten and it was here that his love of physical activity began.

His obsession for the outdoors was thrust upon him by his adventurous parents and at the age of ten he spent two weeks with his family hiking across a remote section of China’s Great Wall while at 11 he spent the summer cycling 1,000 miles in Scandinavia, north of the Arctic Circle.

He was ten years old when he took part in his first triathlon and he continued to compete in them throughout his years at school and university. He turned pro immediately after graduating from Wake Forest University and today some of his biggest accomplishments in the sport include finishing in the top five at several World Cups and taking 15th and top American at the World Olympic Test Event in Rio last year. He has fought fiercely for a place at this year’s Olympics.

In this exclusive interview Greg talks to us about his adventurous upbringing, what it’s like to be part of the USA Triathlon Project 2016 squad and shares more about some of his quirky characteristics and other passions in life.

What was life like growing up and when did you first get involved in and passionate about triathlon?

I moved to England when I was three so my Dad could teach High School on RAF Lakenheath US Air Force Base. We lived in a very cool British manor house in the town of Six Mile Bottom: population ten. My parents wanted to see Britain and the rest of the world, so the minute my three-year old feet hit the Anglican land, we started long-distance hiking and biking trips. Among other trips, we hiked the 100 plus mile journey when I was three, then across England when I was four or five, at ten we spent two weeks hiking remote section of China’s Great Wall and at 11 spent the summer cycling 1,000 miles in Scandinavia, north of the Arctic Circle.

With the general love of physical activity instilled, when I was eight my 12-year-old brother started getting kind of fat, so my parents had us join the base swim team. I was moderately successful, qualifying for some age group national teams, but I knew I wanted to eventually compete in the Olympics.

I found success running in high school, winning the UK National XC championships and the DoDDS European, 1500, 3000, and XC titles. I put swimming and running together to start competing in triathlons my junior year of high school. I continued my pursuit of excellence in triathlon while ran for Wake Forest University in the hopes of achieving my childhood dream of qualifying for the Olympics.

Greg has always led an adventurous lifestyle.

When did your triathlon career begin and what have been your biggest accomplishments in the sport?

Triathlons started for me on the back of a tandem with my Dad leading the way. I was ten years old during that first triathlon, even if could barely count for one; we swam 500 yards at the base pool before being given 30 minutes to change and drive to the bike and run venue. The whole experience was so much fun, though, that I’ll always have great memories to look back on.

I turned pro immediately after graduating from Wake Forest University. As does everyone, my first years were a struggle with injuries, crashes, and getting hit by cars. I came back from two broken arms to almost qualify for the 2012 Olympics. I started to find success over the next couple years, but broke my femur in 2014 and had a long road back for an attempt at the 2016 Olympic Team.

I’ve finished top five at some World Cups, but my biggest accomplishment would be 15th and top American at the World Olympic Test Event in Rio last year. That put me in the driver’s seat to qualify for this Olympic team and I look forward achieving what I’ve wanted badly for almost 20 years.

Greg has been relentless in his fight for a place at this year’s Olympics.

What is it about triathlon that makes you tick?

It’s a never ending process of refinement and improvement. Not a day goes by when I can’t find out something new about myself or about how to achieve my goals in this sport. I may not be the most talented athlete in the world, but I know that I have the right mix of dedication, fitness, and savvy to compete with the best.

I think that’s what makes this sport interesting for so many athletes. Nothing is set in stone; there are always opportunities for improvement and ways to have breakthrough performances.

In which discipline of triathlon do you have to work the hardest and in which do you most excel at?

Swimming is the most difficult for me to have consistently high performances. Marginal losses at the start or around turn buoys can cost me the five seconds that lets the fastest swimmers break away from me out of the water.

Fore more information about Greg visit www.gregorybillington.com.

Tell us about life on the USA Triathlon Project 2016 squad and any events or competitions coming up this year?

The project 2016 squad was the name for the level of National Team I’d qualified for, but that funding programme has changed slightly.

This year the main focus will be around qualifying for the Olympics in Rio. Coming up on May 14, in Yokohama, Japan we’ll have the final Olympic qualification race to determine the US team. I currently lead the men’s qualification, so maintaining that ranking will be the main focus for the next 6 weeks. After that, only Rio!

What are your other passions outside of the world of triathlon?