A Fife athlete will make history when she competes at the Paralympic Games.
Alison Patrick, of Dunfermline, has been selected for the para-triathlon at Rio in September.
It will be the first time the sport has been included in the Paralympics and the 28-year-old is part of a 13-strong GB team chosen to compete in it.
Alison, who is visually-impaired, will be accompanied by her athlete guide Hazel Smith, of Edinburgh.
Qualified physiotherapist Alison was recruited to the triathlon from an athletics background in 2013 and became world champion the next year.
Last year she won the Rio Paralympic test event and she recently successfully defended her European title in Lisbon.
Alison will be tethered to Hazel throughout the 750 metre swim, tandem 20km cycle and five km run on Copacabana Beach.
Hydrologist Hazel has taken time off from her job at AECOM, in Edinburgh, to train with Alison full time at British Triathlon’s National Performance Centre in Loughborough.
She said: “I am honoured to have been chosen to compete with Alison in the Paralympics GB team.
“It is immensely rewarding to help another athlete reach her potential.”
Jonathon Riall, team leader and head coach for Para-triathlon, said: “The last few years have been a race to qualify slots and to ensure that we are ready to take on anything that the rest of the world throws at us in competition.
“Standards are rising quickly in this sport because it is so new.
“I believe we have selected the best possible British team, which has the potential to win medals and make it’s mark as para-triathlon debuts at the Paralympic Games.
“I am looking forward to seeing them take to the biggest stage in disability sport.”
