The Sunderland Echo

Friday, October 14, 2005

By Simon Marks

Ironman at work

Diabetic Gary takes on triple challenge

Being diagnosed with diabetes has not stopped other famous sportsmen and women from achieving success. Other diabetic sportsmen and women include:

Steve Redgrave, Britain's greatest ever olympian. He won five successive gold medals for his rowing skills.

Gary Mabbut, who captained Tottenham Hotspur to the 1991 FA cup and won 16 caps for England in the 1980s.

Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram, who took more than 400 test wickets and was one of Wisden's Cricketers of the year 1993.

Tennis player Billie-Jean King, one of the greats of the game. She won the Wimbledon women's singles title six times.

IRONMAN Gary Blakie is beating Diabetes to compete in one of the toughest sporting challenges in the world.

And for the 21-year-old the challenge of swimming a mile, then biking 25 miles, immediately followed by a six-mile run on the paradise island of Hawaii is a dream he though could never come true.

Gary has been training in Honolulu for the past week to get in shape for his bid for glory in the World Age Group Triathlon Championships.

He is being supported by the Diabetes UK charity.

But it's a world away from the challenge he faced nine years ago, when doctors told him he was a diabetic.

Then aged 12, Gary, who lives in Weardale Avenue, South Bents, was told he would be dependant on insulin for the rest of his life. After he complained of a stomach bug, a urine strip test confirmed he was suffering from the blood sugar disease.

"Being diagnosed was like a kick in the teeth at the time," Gary said. "But, looking back, I'm glad because it's led me to where I am now."

He credits his father Eric for introducing him to triathlons - and the Ironman challenge has become a real family affair, as is representing the Great Britain team alongside his dad.

Gary competed his first triathlon at Cockermouth in Cumbria in 2001.

"Those were the days," he said. "I even had time to get dried with a towel after the swim."

"There's no time for that now, as every second counts and can make the difference between winning and losing."

Despite taking regular insulin injections, Gary completes a challenging weekly training regime of 3.5 miles of swimming, 150 miles of cycling and 25 miles of running.

And he has managed to come up with a way of taking his medication that means he does not have to worry about taking insulin during the race.

Gary says diabetes should not be a barrier to anybody wanting success in the sporting arena.

"If you're willing to fight it, don't hold back," he said.