WHEN Liam Walker lines up to compete in the Zofingen Powerman World Championships in Switzerland this weekend, it will mark the latest success in a career that’s going from strength to strength.

Originally from Barrow, where his family still live, but now working in Sheffield, Liam studied coaching and sports performance at the University of Cumbria, but what is remarkable is that his athletic prowess has been achieved in just two years.

“I was always active as a child but practically gave up on sport about four years ago, just playing an odd game of cricket and six-a-side football,” Liam said. “I started this journey in 2015 after entering the Global Corporate Challenge (GCC) 100 day step challenge and when my mates forced me to do a Parkrun, began spinning classes, bought a bike, slowly learned to swim and became hooked. I didn’t believe I’d start running again, never mind combining three sports as well as training anywhere between 14-25 hours a week, but I fell for the sport.”

A top ten finish in the Sheffield half marathon spurred Liam on and when he won the Rother Valley Duathlon in February there was no stopping him.

He qualified for Switzerland after entering, and winning, his first half distance triathlon. Now working at the University of Sheffield, he says: “To have reached this level within two years is incredible and is testament to the people I train with and the amazing coaching experience gained on my degree at the University of Cumbria. As a self-coached athlete I relied on the expertise of staff in the University of Cumbria’s sports department.”