The athlete won the silver medal at the Spanish Championship and the bronze in the T100 category of the Spanish Middle Distance Triathlon Championship, held in Pamplona. The competition, which took place last Saturday, May 23rd, was conducted under extreme conditions due to a heatwave.
Irala, competing in the 35-39 age group, described the race as "very tough," highlighting the long wait between the staggered age-group starts. The swimming segment was held in the Alloz reservoir, followed by a demanding cycling course from the reservoir to Pamplona, featuring nearly 900 meters of elevation gain. The footrace through the city center consisted of a three-lap circuit, accumulating over 200 meters of elevation gain.
Family support was crucial for the triathlete. "That day I had the support of my parents and my siblings," she stated. "Furthermore, knowing that my partner and another club mate were suffering the day's conditions just like me gave me the encouragement to keep going and not stop."
“"Since they give us the option to move the spot to next year, I have requested the change. Most likely, I will compete in 2027, we don't know where yet."
Following her success in the national championship, Irala received notification of her qualification for the world championship set to take place in Qatar in December. However, she has requested to postpone her participation to the following year, with the expectation of competing in 2027.
The Torrelodones City Council has congratulated Paula Irala on her achievement, wishing her luck in her future world championship participation.
The T100 circuit, a middle-distance triathlon format created by the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) in collaboration with World Triathlon, requires competitors to complete 2000 meters of swimming, 80 kilometers of cycling, and 18 kilometers of running, totaling 100 kilometers.
