Heather Fell got her first real inspiration in the sport by following some of the world’s most famous Olympic rowers.
FOLLOWING some of the word’s finest rowers when watching the Olympics as a youngster was where some of Heather Fell’s first sporting aspirations came from. However, today she can stake her claim as a great herself, for in 2008, at the Beijing Olympics, she took Silver in the women’s modern pentathlon.
Heather later took up the sport of triathlon and after much success on the scene competed in her first Ironman races last year. As well as currently training hard for the forthcoming season she also has her dream job as a presenter on telly for a triathlon channel.
Here Heather talks about how she’s made it all happen as well as her passion for healthy eating and her aims and ambitions for the future.
Who were your sporting inspirations when you were young?
It was the people around me, fellow athletes that I wanted to beat. I didn’t watch much TV so had no famous athletes I followed per sae but Sydney games were the first to really catch me. The performance of the British duo winning medals and Cathy Freeman had a big influence. Later in my career I found inspiration from the huge feat that Sir Steve Redgrave managed with his 5 consecutive golds. Away from Olympic sport it was Ellen McCarthur and her round the world sailing accomplishments.
Heather is a former British modern pentathlete who took Silver in the 2008 Olympics.
When was it you realised you had a real talent in sport of modern penthathlon and could go on to compete on the world stage?
I had the first incling when I was 16 and I beat a girl who was representing GB at the Junior Worlds, I was only just aware of what MP was at that stage. The next significant moment was winning Junior Worlds, that changed a lot!
Heather realised her potential in modern pentathlon when at the age of 16 she beat a girl in the sport who was representing GB at the Junior Worlds.
Which memories have stuck with you the most from when you won Silver in the Pentathlon in the 2008 Summer Olympics and how much does that achievement still mean to you?
Gosh so many memories. Probably doing the running warm up with my fellow team mate and great friend Katy waving to the crowds taking it all in before the competition had finished, so close yet still excited to race and see the outcome. Then greeting my parents in the crowd when I had finished, it was euphoric and of course the moment on the podium to try and take it all in. It still means so much as it was a long tough road to get there.
Heather pictured with her partner. They both enjoy cycling together which is, of course, ideal training for Heather’s pursuit of triathlon glory.
Tell us what you’ve been doing most recently to keep fit and train? Have you been competing at all?
I am always looking for challenges that keep me fit. Last year I completed my first Ironman triathlon and this year I’m targeting more running specific races with hopefully some shorter triathlons later in the year.
Where has sport taken you most recently and what have been the highlights?
So many highlights. Well sport has taken me all over the world as since retiring I continued to work in international sport. A couple of highlights being working at London 2012 and then again in Rio 2016. Now I have a dream job working as a presenter on a triathlon channel, something that would never have happened if it wasn’t for my medal.
Heather competed in her first Ironman last year.
How did your passion for healthy eating really begin and where can our readers find your recipes and suggestions?
I’ve always loved food, our family always have a proper sit down meal each evening and if everyone is around then lunch and breakfast too. I have carried that on through my career and food is a large part of my life making it social and so important for wellbeing. Yes as an athlete food becomes fuel but it can still be enjoyed. This was part of the reason I was reluctant to use supplements and preferred to eat as healthy as possible to get my nutrients naturally.
It became a slight competition to myself as we had our bloods tested regularly and I was proud to usually have a perfect score with little to no supplements. My parents also have an extensive garden with a lot of fresh veg, I still try and take as much as I can ‘smuggle’ back with me whenever I go to visit.
Being able to bear the cold and swim in all conditions is an essential part of being a triathlete.
As for my own cooking I do have a sweet tooth but love healthy food so recently have done a lot of experimenting with making treats that can fuel me on long cycles without spiking my blood sugars. One of my favourite recipes is in a friends book – Fuelled by Cake 2 by Helen Murray, there’s some other great recipes from athletes in there too.
I don’t yet have any recipes online but watch this space in the future. I do however share some as I go mainly on my insta.
Heather is looking forward to competing in more triathlons and Ironman races in the year ahead.
What are you looking forward to most in 2018 and do you have any sporting challenges lined up?
I’m always excited by a new year, I want to try new things. After completing two IM’s last year I want to rediscover my speed especially in the run. I aim to race some 5 and 10k’s with the hope of picking up cycling again as the days get longer and then try my first Olympic distance event. I am also experimenting off road on the bike with the thought of doing some cross tri. In the meantime I am running a half marathon in 3 weeks time (it’s come around far too quickly) and the week after I’m representing my county in the National Inter-county cross country champs which will be fast and furious.
Who were your sporting inspirations when you were young?
