Tokyo 2020: Team Ireland profiles - Russell White (Triathlon)

White first dreamed of going to Olympics as a swimmer

Russell White leaves the water during the Men’s Triathlon on day one of the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Photograph: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

Sat Jul 17 2021 - 02:30

Age: 29

Event: Men's Individual Triathlon

Club: Banbridge

Growing up in Banbridge, White first dreamed of going to the Olympics as a swimmer, not a triathlete. He went on to win national championship medals with Lisburn City Swimming Club, also playing hockey for Ulster at underage level. After being spotted at one of Triathlon Ireland's Talent ID days in 2009, White competed in his first elite race at the European Championships in Athlone the following year, before placing 15th place at the 2017 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Rotterdam. Tokyo will be his 100th elite triathlon start.