ROHRMAN SPORTS ASSOCIATION

One of the Caribbean’s most successful triathletes has now been added to the growing list of high profile names slated for the Digicel Wadadli Tinman on January 29th 2012.

St. Kitts & Nevis star Rasta triathlete Reginald “Reggie” Douglas will now join Argentina’s Claudio Delpueche in focusing the attention of the world’s triathlon community on Antigua and Barbuda for its maiden half-iron distance triathlon.

The 34-year old Reggie is a five time national champion, four time OECS champion, several times sportsman of the year and has competed at both the Ironman 70.3 World Championship and Cycling World Championships.

In a sport where the last two world champions won at the age of 38, Reggie is just entering the prime of his career and plans to use the Digicel Wadadli Tinman as the start of what he plans on making his most successful season yet.

“Next year is looking like a very positive year for me sponsor wise so next year I will be doing a lot more travelling and the Tinman is my first event” Douglas said.

Reggie has spent several years promoting St. Kitts & Nevis at different international races that he has attended and now he hopes to bring some of the international spotlight to the island he considers his second home.

“During my adventure at the World Championship when I told people I am from Nevis and I tell them how big is the island some of the guys staying in the hotel with us were laughing at us but when they see me up there with them on the bike they stop laughing,” Douglas said.

“My whole family is from Antigua so Antigua is more like my second home, I was only born in Nevis,” Douglas added.

The accomplished triathlete also highlighted the importance of the Digicel Wadadli Tinman in inspiring future triathletes from the region.

“It’s good to know that there is such an event close by in the neighbourhood and we need to see more of these events around the Caribbean that will be easy to get to and you don’t have to travel all the way to the US” Douglas said.

The 34-year old triathlete added there is a untold potential for developing future world beaters in the sport and offered the story of his humble beginnings in the sport as an example.

“As a young boy I grew up on the beach so I always could have swim and I actually started out as a mountain biker and there used to be an event called the Caribbean Cup….but then mountain biking started to drizzle out,” Douglas recalled.

“We heard over in St. Kitts they were having a triathlon. I knew nothing about it…just two of us in the team could swim, but not with the technique and everything,” Douglas said. “The guys would beat us out of the water but we found we would catch up on the bike and I used to be a long distance runner in school so all three came together and I just stuck with it and it took me a lot of places,” Douglas said.

Reggie’s best performance came in 2007 for the second time he attempted the St. Croix half-ironman, where out of a field of more than 1,000 of the best competitors from across the planet he placed 8th in his age group and 20th overall qualifying him for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships.

The Digicel Wadadli Tinman is a unique sporting challenge where competitors in four sports; swimming, cycling, running and triathlon compete over a gruelling 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile cycle and 13.1 mile run on January 29th 2012.

The Digicel Wadadli Tinman is made possible by support from its sponsors; Digicel, the Observer Media Group, the American University of Antigua (AUA), Xtreme Health and Fitness, Cedars Pottery and Adventure Antigua. This event is hosted by the Wadadli Triathlon Club and endorsed by the Antigua and Barbuda Triathlon (ABTRI) Association and Ministry of Sports.

Additional excerpts from the interview conducted with Reggie by the Wadadli Triathlon Club are shown below:

1. What's your Name? Age? And where are you from?

My name is Reginald "Reggie" Douglas I am 34 years, from the island of Nevis where I still live, work and train. I have very strong Antiguan or Wadadli ties as my parents are both from Antigua. 
 
2. How long have you been involved in triathlon and tell us a bit about how first got involved in the sport?

I have been involved in Triathlons for over 12 years. I first got involved in the sport seriously in 2000, after mainly competing at Windsurfing and Mountain Biking around the Caribbean. Encouraged by Winston Crooke the former head of the Nevis Team, a number of us decided to branch out into a new avenue that of triathlons. My first event was in St. Kitts, I enjoyed it even though I placed 4th overall, it is mainly due to the encouragement of my teammates and best friends why I got involved and remain so active.

I continue to take part in Triathlon as it is a healthy sport it brings together mind body and soul; but I would not consider myself a full blooded triathlete as I also very passionate about Cycling, 
 
3. You have been involved in triathlon for many years now. Looking back on your career what are some of your proudest moments and biggest achievements?

Looking back at my career as a triathlete my proudest moments would be:- the 70.3 Half Iron Man in Clearwater Florida in 2007 (entry to an event of this nature shows that you are one of the fastest men around)

In 2008, after years of hard work I won my first home event, the Nevis International Triathlon, during this same year I also won the Tobago Rainbow Cup International Triathlon.

In 2008 hard work continued to pay off with my selection to the PAN AM GAMES but I was later unable to attend. One of the greatest achievements I would choose is becoming Nevis Sportsman of the Year 2 times and winning the OECS Triathlon Championship 4 times.

4. You are going to be one of the most high profile athletes coming to the Wadadli Tinman half-iron distance triathlon. Why did you decide to come to this event?
 
The reasons why I am participating in the Wadadli Tinman Half Iron Man Triathlon this year include:- I am a great fan and supporter for the development of sporting events around the Caribbean and see the huge future potential for young athletes

I love racing in Antigua , it is my home away from home, and for me this will be an important precursor event, to the TriStar Nevis International Triathlon (TriStar 111) in Nevis.