She’s only 12 years old, but Squamish’s Linnea Uunila has already logged more time on the track, in the pool and on two wheels than many adults.
Uunila started young and she has quickly developed a passion for triathlon. She’s turning heads in all three aspects of the sport.
Her parents put her in the Squamish Youth Triathlon (SYT) at the age of seven and she quickly dove right into competing.
“I was a little nervous at first,” she admitted of her first foray into the sport. “But I trained up to it, did it and started really loving it after that. I liked it because it’s three sports in one and a lot of fun.”
In the years since that first triathlon, Uunila has competed in events all across North America and excelled. She won her age group in the infamous Alcatraz Sharkfest swim in San Francisco last year, earned second at the Intimidator Florida Challenge Triathlon in March 2014 and has also cleaned up at local events like the SYT, Loop the Lakes and the Squamish Days run.
But her skill in the sport doesn’t come without its hard work. Uunila said a typical week consists of bike training on Monday, running training on Tuesday morning and swimming on Tuesday night, more swimming on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and a combination of the three disciplines on the weekend.
Her father Lars Uunila said his daughter’s motivation is impressive and it’s her own work ethic that drives her.
“Her attitude has always been quite positive,” he said. “There’s not one minute of any training session that she slacks off, and it’s not because I’m pushing her – it’s her own incentive.”
Lars said he tries to juggle her busy summer schedule, making sure that the dozens of events are logistically possible for them to attend.
This year she’s also branched out into coaching swimming – the discipline of triathlon with which she’s most comfortable. Every Friday she coaches young swimmers with the SwimFaster group in Squamish. Head coach Juan Gomez said Uunila is a great motivator to others.
“She’s a leader on the team and a great example for everyone to excel,” he said. “Having the opportunity to have her participation as a coach brings a lot of value to the team, and she’s an inspiration to the kids.”
Lars said his daughter has even motivated her grandfather to compete in some of the races. She also received training from triathlon coach Barrie Shepley at a special camp in Arizona earlier this year. Shepley worked with Olympic triathlon gold medal winner Simon Whitfield.
Uunila wants to build on a 2014 that saw her win the Canadian 19-and-under open water swimming championships last year and also earn AAA swimming recognition. This summer she plans to attend the Apple Triathlon in Kelowna, the Rattlesnake Island swim in Peachland and the Statue of Liberty swim in New York City. She’ll also compete in races closer to home.
The Grade 7 Don Ross Secondary School student has some big aspirations for her future in the sport.
“I want to compete in an Ironman one day and would like to go to the Olympics for triathlon,” she said.
She said triathlon has brought her a lot of joy and hopes other youth in Squamish can also have fun competing in their sport of choice.
“Everyone should join a sport they love and do it when they’re young,” she said. “Find something they’re passionate about and just do it.”
Read The Squamish Chief to follow Uunila on her triathlon journey this summer.
