TRIATHLETES are known for their ability to push through pain and Cassia Boglio has certainly put her toughness beyond doubt, enduring four hospitalisations in the past 12 months.
The Bicton teenager has been selected for the West Australia triathlon team each year since she became eligible as a 13-year-old, winning numerous individual national silver and bronze medals, as well as team gold along the way.
Last season she finished ranked sixth in Australia based on her swim and run times as one of the youngest girls competing in the national junior triathlon series 16-19 year-old category.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWThat achievement is even more remarkable given the injuries she sustained along the way.
“I misjudged a kerb while training last July and landed badly on my elbow, breaking it,” Cassia said.
“Then in the first race of the season I sliced my toe coming out of the swim and had to go to the hospital for stiches.”
“In the second race, I broke my hand in a big bike crash.”
The Perth Modern student escaped the rest of the season relatively unscathed, but six weeks ago her misfortune returned.
“I was cycling home from training in Applecross and got hit by a car that didn’t give way at a roundabout,” she said.
“Luckily I only got bruising and was able to get back on the bike fairly quickly.”
Cassia is now preparing for the start of a new national junior triathlon series, training twice a day every day of the week as she aims to qualify for the Australia junior elite team that will compete at the Triathlon World Championships on the Gold Coast next year.
“I like all three legs of triathlon but I’m probably strongest at running because that is what I’ve been doing the longest after starting off in Little Athletics,” she said.
In between her own training, Cassia helps coach junior triathletes in the Fremantle Triathlon Clubs’ TRYstars program and also volunteers at various events.
MORE: Premier McGowan announces statewide ban on plastic bags
MORE: St John Ambulance issues warning about snakes
MORE: Woman charged after allegedly attempting to smother baby daughter
MORE: Central Park Plunge: abseiling 220m was scary, but sick kids are much braver than I was