Squash
Maddie Parrott played for a number of clubs, including Next Generation in Bristol where she competed in the county league. She is now a long-distance triathlete and cyclist.
Benefits: Mainly psychological. I loved to win the very close, long matches which required patience, concentration and determination. That’s what you need to succeed in triathlon, especially over longer distances where you need to pace yourself.
Baggage: My squash background has never hindered me in triathlon, in fact it worked the other way round. I started running to improve my fitness in long matches, but running inhibited my flexibility and I started getting injured on court. So I gave up squash, continued running and from there moved into triathlon.
Biggest difference: League squash required commitment to certain times every week, with matches on a Thursday evening, practice and training in the gym on Monday. Triathlon is a far more flexible sport.
Verdict: Helpful - there was a lot that I took from squash to triathlon, like discipline in practice and training, setting clear goals, and the routine of a dynamic warm-up before exercise and cool-down stretching afterwards.
Picture credit: John Terence Turner/ Getty Images
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