Sebastian Engwald has powerful story to tell ahead of Daman World Triathlon Abu Dhabi 2019

Matt Jones - Editor 15:06 05/03/2019
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  • Pic courtesy of Sebastian Engwald.

    World champions Vicky Holland, Mario Mola and a host of the world’s finest triathletes will be the main focus but there are some far more powerful stories to tell ahead of the Daman World Triathlon Abu Dhabi 2019.

    The event, taking place from March 8-9, is the season-opener of the ITU’s Global World Triathlon Series, and will welcome the strongest elite field ever witnessed in Abu Dhabi – 112 athletes including nine of the world’s top 10 females and the full roster of men’s top 10 athletes.

    The field, representing 27 countries from around the world, is highly decorated with Olympic and World Championship medals, with the athletes again using the season opener as a springboard to 2020 and the Tokyo Olympics.

    But the elite names are not the only ones with desires on Olympic gold next summer. Just as hungry for success on the grand stage are the countless athletes in the myriad other categories.

    The Daman World Triathlon Abu Dhabi will feature three main categories: Elite Individual Men’s and Women’s races and Elite Mixed Relay race, as well as the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi triathlon, age grouper and junior races. In addition there is the family 1km Run Fun as well as a dedicated para-triathlete waves and the first sports competition of the Special Olympics World Games 2019.

    One man who has his eye trained on the latter event is Dubai-based Dane Sebastian Engwald who is targeting a place at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

    Engwald, 31, lost a leg in a boat accident back in 1999. He is now a lower limb amputee triathlete and sport therapist and one who is on the road to Tokyo 2020.

    Most people would find it hard to get out of bed each day had such tragedy befallen them. Not only has Engwald swallowed his pity and anger, he actually considers himself “lucky” to have gone through what he has.

    “It may not seem logical, but I feel lucky that my accident happened very early in my life,” he told Sport360.

    “I was only 11. It had me build my identity as an amputee through the teenage years. Before the accident, I was always a very active child, moving from football to tennis, ice hockey and on to sailing. So for me there was no doubt that being active was motivating for me.

    “In serious situations like the one I had, family and friends moved in close and supported all they could and also insisted that I would keep up with them in sports and activities.

    Mola will be among the leading lights in Abu Dhabi.

    Mola will be among the leading lights in Abu Dhabi.

    “When I reflect back on my early years as an amputee, I think somehow I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep up on the short term attention and goals that ‘normal’ children were aspiring for, and I therefore strived for long term goals and achievements, that I knew I could master with patience.

    “Going into triathlon started with a wish to not just keep up with everyone else, but instead try and achieve something great and use my disability to inspire people.”

    Engwald staggeringly climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania – at 5,895m the tallest mountain in Africa – in 2013 and narrowly missed out on his first Paralympics in Brazil three years ago.

    “After I reached the summit of Kilimanjaro in 2013, I set the goal of one day doing a full Ironman,” added the Dane.

    “When telling people around me about my plans, they recommended to try and go for the sprint distance first since it became a Paralympic discipline for the Paralympics in Rio 2016.

    “I had to face that all the hard work wasn’t enough to rank me for Rio, and I chose to use my fitness to finally complete a full Ironman in Copenhagen in August 2016.

    “Tokyo will be my first Olympics. The Olympics has always been something I could only dream about, and just seven years ago I wouldn’t have thought that I would be aspiring for this. I feel that I have unfinished business with the Paralympics.

    “After my first attempt in 2016, I realised that it would not be possible to qualify with the current classification categories of disability. Me racing against someone missing ‘only’ a hand or a few fingers, just wasn’t fair.

    “For Tokyo 2020, the ITU have reassessed the classification criteria, and we now have a lot more competitive balance in the PTS4 class that I compete in.”
    And he has a bold dream he is aiming for in a little over 12 months’ time.

    “To qualify would definitely mean a lot, but it is just a step on the way toward the top of the podium, where I feel I belong,” he said.

    The World Triathlon Abu Dhabi has long been a popular event on the UAE sporting calendar.

    The World Triathlon Abu Dhabi has long been a popular event on the UAE sporting calendar.

    “I haven’t really dared to say it out loud before. But with the time and structure I have put in training the last six months with my coach Tom Walker at InnerFight, I realise I want to be on the top of the podium in Tokyo 2020.

    “I have always been a very competitive child also before the accident, and still was after I lost my foot. And the feeling of being underestimated is still to this day the thing that motivates me the most.

    “Also to see many other amputees or people of determination doing incredible and inspiring achievements has also inspired and motivated me through the years.”

    As for this weekend and the season opener, Engwald is excited to compete in his back yard.

    He said: “I always wanted to come to Abu Dhabi and race this event. Until now I have not been able to make it, since this was not part the Paratriathlon World Cup calendar. Now that I live in Dubai, I can’t wait to race in Abu Dhabi, and at the same time inspire and show people in the UAE what a paratriathletes can do and look like.

    “My aim is to win the paratriathlon category. When racing in Abu Dhabi, I will arrive straight from the Paratriathlon World Cup in Australia, and will be top tuned for this race.”

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