Rihoy & Son has extended its involvement with local sport and announced the sponsorship of Island Games triathlon team member Magdalena Puzio. Jersey 2015 will be Magda’s first Island Games appearance and she is training hard to consolidate her recent local success.
Magda started her triathlon training only three years ago but has impressed her fellow competitors and coaches with her sporting talent and determination. She placed second overall in this year’s Ana Leaf Foundation Triathlon series and was the first woman home in the summer’s Havelet competition.
Magda, who is originally from Poland, has a master’s degree in physical education. She swam during her time at university in Poznan but had never cycled and always found running a challenge. Whilst she was living in the UK, Magda decided to set herself the challenge of running a half marathon. Once she’d achieved that, she entered a full marathon and now Magda runs regularly as part of her training.
After arriving in Guernsey, Magda had the opportunity to enjoy cycling more and it wasn’t long before she turned her attention to triathlon.
The Rihoy & Son sponsorship means Magda doesn’t have to worry about her accommodation for the Jersey 2015 Island Games and she can support her training with specialist coaches. Her focus is currently on injury prevention, with regular strength-training sessions. Training will intensify as the Games draw nearer and Magda is keen to race in the UK and France to test herself further.
Jersey will be her first Island Games but she is very aware of the significance of the event. ‘I feel incredibly proud to be representing Guernsey at the Games. People have always been very supportive here and it means a lot to me to be in the team,’ says Magda.
‘Triathlon is a very unpredictable sport, you can have injury problems, or mechanical issues with your bike, so it’s hard to know where I might place on the day, but I’ll be giving the race my all.’
Gavin Rihoy, Managing Director of Rihoy & Son says: ‘We are very proud to support Magda, she has already proved herself to be a fantastic athlete and to be involved in the Island Games in this way is very exciting.’
Posted: 20 November 2014