Triathlon: Wilson athlete Giles to be youngest female competitor in Busselton 70.3

WILSON resident Rylea Giles will enter the Ironman 70.3 Busselton triathlon this Sunday as the youngest female competitor.

The 18-year-old competed in her first triathlon that included a 1.9km swim, a 90km bike ride and 21.1km run, in December, three days after she turned 18.

She had taken part in races as a junior and started to get more serious about the sport when she was in her later years of high school.

Rylea said she loved triathlons and had made good friends competing in the sport.

“Last year when I ran down the red carpet it was the best feeling,” she said.

“I still look at the medal and can’t believe I did that.”

At her first 70.3 triathlon, she finished in six hours and 54 minutes and was hoping to improve on the time.

Along with achieving her triathlon goals, she is also juggling studying exercise science at Curtin University and working.