THE world champion 'Ironman' 2007 looks set to add a little steel to the college's triathlon squad when he visits the college tomorrow. Australian Chris McCormack, who has been described as one of the finest triathletes ever, is a five times Ironman Australia winner, 12 times winner of events worldwide and was the first athlete to achieve a double of world champion Ironman and World Cup Series winner in the same year. The super fit Chris has a personal best triathlon of 7hrs 54mins for the 2.4mile swim, 112 mile bike and a 26.2 mile marathon run. Chris will be giving advice to the five students who form the Kelly College/TRI UK Race Team, who are aiming to take part in the Olympic Games in 2012 in London. It is quite a coup for the college as it is Chris's only visit of this type in the country. His visit coincides with the UK Ironman 70.3 event taking place at Wimbleball Lake, Exmoor on Sunday — where more than 1,300 athletes are racing and raising money for charity. His visit has been sponsored by Tri UK, the world's largest triathlon store. which are providing the college triathlon team with equipment and expertise, as they push towards the 2012 London Olympics. The team will be known as the Kelly College/TRI UK Race Team. The five young Kelly College athletes, Calum Tustin, Rebecca Windemer, Brett Bassett, Rhys Davey and Matt Goater have an average age of 16 and are coached by renowned swim coach Robin Brew and international triathlete Richard Brady. TRI UK will support the team with the latest in titanium bikes, clothing, nutrition and expertise. Richard Wallace, TRI UK's head of athlete development, said: 'Triathlon is a fast growing industry and these athletes are some of the brightest hopes for the future. There is a real possibility that one or all of them could make up the British Olympic Team in 2012 and we are proud to support them.' TRI UK, based in Yeovil, Somerset, was backing Kelly's Rhys Davey, during the 2007 season so the company felt it was a natural progression to sponsor his Kelly team mates as well. Robin Brew of Kelly College believes the link up will be a good step forward for these athletes. He said: 'It is rare that a company will support and make an investment in the future of the sport, however TRI UK have shown their long term commitment to the sport by sponsoring some of the very best young talent in the country.'
