Ironman Wales: Thousands ‘face the dragon’ in Tenby

Laura Whitaker was among the athletes to complete a first full-distance Ironman.

“I was born deaf and then the eyesight went when I was about 13 or 14, but I didn’t know until I went for a driver’s test,” she said.

“It deteriorated as I got older and now I am just quite severely sighted, the hearing got a bit worse, so I wear two hearing aids.”

Laura had three guides to ensure her safety, one for each leg of the race. She was welcomed in by a packed finish line, with her family presenting her finisher’s medal.

“It is just nice to show that even with disabilities, you can still do things,” she said.

“Obviously I still need that support, so I really appreciate them because I wouldn’t be here without them.

“Doing this exercise has massively helped me because physically and mentally it keeps me going.

“We are outside so there is a lot of noise, so communication [with guides] is mainly shouting at each other.

“Kirsty [running guide] is really good at telling me if there is a step, a curb, a pothole which people who can see will struggle with, but for someone who can’t see, it is even harder.”