FEATURED ATHLETE PROFILE
TAMARA SPARGO
AGE GROUP SQUAD
NICKNAME:
Tamara
LIVES:
Belmont
I did my first triathlon in 2005, a sprint distance in Sandringham, and I had to do backstroke pretty much the whole 500m as I was petrified of the ocean. I didn't give up though, and I'm still racing all these years later.
I've done 10 Ironmans, I think about 35 half-Ironmans, maybe 10 or 12 Olympic distance races...most of them with my husband Lucas, who was the one who got me started in the sport way back then!
So much has changed in the sport since then, but we still love it - it's just a part of our life, and hopefully our son Jonah will get involved when he is old enough. He's almost five, and actually thinks triathlon is called Beckworth! I'm getting older, but have no plans to give up yet - I love being able to do something that not many people can do, and to prove to people that anyone can do this sport, no matter what your age or ability.
I didn't grow up doing any sport at all, so I'm pretty proud that I'm still going and hopefully still have some good years of racing left in me!
THOUGHTS ON BECKWORTH RACING
We moved to Geelong in 2015, and I started coming to run club in 2018, after I had Jonah in 2017, as a way to meet people and get back into the sport.
I love the support you get at races from all the Beckworth crew and coaches, especially at Geelong 70.3 and Ironman Australia - it's amazing, and so great to feel like part of a group.
It can be hard to get up the courage to join a new club, or start a new sport, but Beckworth have so many athletes of ranging ability, so there's always someone to talk to or to train with at your pace. A great team of coaches, always available for advice and questions.