Photos: Anders Bjerring/GraphicVision
Camilla Pedersen embodies the spirit of triathlon. Following an horrific crash that left her in a coma at the tail-end of 2013, the Dane has bounced back in style. Numerous titles in 2014 – including an ITU lLong Distance World Championship – mark her out as one to watch at tomorrow’s Challenge Bahrain. That said, like many athletes this weekend, she’s playing down her chances…
How are you feeling coming into this?
It’s a new place, it’s a new race and it’s always nice to try something new and that’s exciting. It’s been a long season for me – a long year – so for me I’m viewing it as a fun, but one where you push yourself hard.
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Can you have a fun race when there’s $100k on the line?
Of course, the prize money is nice. But that’s not really in my head. I still have a lot to learn and there are a lot of new things for me – things to figure out about what works and what doesn’t. I still have some troubles after my accident. So that is why I still have new things to try and why the prize money is not that important. It is important to be out racing with the pro girls.
Talking about your accident, how are you since then?
I’m the same person as before, but you enjoy things a lot more. That’s why I’m back. You realise that you only live once and that’s why I fought so hard to come back to the things I love to do. That is why triathlon is so nice and with the Challenge Family – they are always there to support you. One of the things that I have been fighting so hard to do is be back to the things I like and love. That’s why I’m here and I’m enjoying every second.
Have you had a chance to recce the course at all?
I tried the F1 course on the bike – it’s amazing. You get a kick out of it and you just think ‘faster, faster’. Today I tried out the run course through the animal park and you see them all running around and that is amazing too. So I hope my focus tomorrow will be on the running and not on the animals. It’s such an awesome race – I’m really looking forward to it.
And if you did scoop $100k tomorrow how would you spend it?
I don’t really count on that happening – like I said this is kind of like the off-season for me because I’ve done a lot of races this year. I’m just here to have fun and enjoy it. For the first time my parents are with me for a race so I’ll see what happens. Of course, I’ll give it all tomorrow. But if I do win $100k I don’t know what I’ll use it for – maybe more racing!
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