Joe Sherman: "It's really motivating to train with Brownlees"

“Alistair and Jonny are the main two sportspeople I look up to,” said Joe, who is studying A-Levels in Geography, Sociology and PE. I train with them a lot now – pretty much every week – and it’s just really good to have them there." 

“If you ever need any advice about anything, they’re just really good to talk to, while we can also just chat generally. It’s really motivating to train with them, and that drives me on." 

“Whatever the weather and whatever day it is, Alistair and Jonny are always out training no matter what. If it’s dark, light, rain or snow, they’re always out training. They both came into where my dad works with their Olympic bikes in 2016 – that was really cool, but I never realised I’d be training with them just a few years later."

“Whenever we go out in the car to training I drive, with my mum teaching me. Hopefully if I pass my test, I can take myself to training which will give me more flexibility about when I can train. I wouldn’t need to rely on my mum – and it would give me a lot more independence.” 

Joe lives with parents, Mandy and Darrel, in Alwoodley and his brother Ben, 19, recently started studying at Newcastle University. Work and training is a fine balance for Joe, who is in his final year of study at The Grammar School at Leeds and hopes to embark on a Science of Sport Performance course at either Leeds or Loughborough University later this year. 

The Yorkshire star’s career zenith came at last year’s Super League Triathlon event in Malta, where he claimed a memorable eighth-place finish to mark himself out as one of Great Britain’s rising stars. 

Leeds is a hotbed of British triathlon – the Brownlee brothers, Jess Learmonth and Georgia Taylor-Brown are all based in the city – and Joe has relished the painful lessons he’s learned as he bids to follow in their footsteps. 

“I guess facilities, coaches and the volume of people that do triathlon in Leeds makes it so popular,” he added. “There are a lot of elite athletes in the city, and they just have such a positive impact on everyone else." 

“I really like pushing myself. It sounds weird, but I really like being in pain – I thrive off it. When you’re doing a good session, and you feel good, I just like to push myself even harder and make it hurt even more. That’s the sort of mentality you need to make it to the top." 

“Triathlon has shaped me a lot, while travelling to Malta to represent Great Britain was a really good experience and helped me gain independence.” 

Joe is a recent recipient of funding from an innovative partnership between SportsAid and Gateley – a leading legal and professional services group – as he ramps up preparations for the return of competition this year. 

The triathlon calendar remains uncertain – but Joe has no doubts the support can help catalyse his journey to the bright Olympic lights. 

“I want to compete in major world races and championships and ultimately, I want to represent Great Britain at the Olympics,” he said. “And after Olympic distance, I’d like to move towards Ironman and slightly longer racing." 

“I have recently become a SportsAid award recipient thanks to their partnership with Gateley it’s had a huge impact on me – it’s allowed me to buy essential kit that I’ll need for training, particularly as I’m starting to grow and need more kit. As a triathlete, it can also be quite hard to find time to get a job to earn extra money, so SportsAid and Gateley’s support has helped me financially and gives me more freedom to choose what I want to buy."

“It’s also a confidence boost to know SportsAid are willing to put their faith in me, and that I’m following in such a great line of other SportsAid-supported athletes.” 

Gateley is a legal and professional services group working with forward thinkers and new talent, in both business and in sport. They are proudly partnering with SportsAid to give additional support to promising young athletes across the country in a variety of sports.