Paula Findlay faces frantic race against time as triathlete targets T100 finals in Qatar following ‘heartbreak’ of Marbella DNF

Paula Findlay is determined to bounce back and finish the season on a high after admitting last weekend’s DNF nightmare in Marbella had left her ‘heartbroken’.

The 36-year-old Canadian had looked in good shape to challenge the leaders after an impressive bike leg had pushed her up to third place in the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship field.

Dreams of a grandstand finish were dashed, however, as a niggling hip injury meant she was unable to run at her best, and she decided it was both safer and more prudent to pull out through fear of making the issue worse.

Forced change of plans

Findlay had intended to follow up her trip to Marbella by lining up at the T100 Tour event in Dubai this weekend but has been forced to go home and seek professional advice on an injury, which is also threatening her appearance in the T100 Tour Finals in Qatar next month.

Indeed, Qatar is now her sole focus, determined not to finish the season on a DNF.

Writing on her Instagram account this week, a clearly emotional Findlay, said: “I was looking forward to the challenge of back-to-back race weekends (Marbella and Dubai T100), but of course, my plans are not unfolding how I imagined.

“I changed my flights from Dubai to go back home, where I can focus on trying to get better for the @t100triathlon final in Qatar next month. Might be unrealistic, but at home, I can get help and guidance to make the best decisions that I can! I still have some motivation to finish the season on a high note 🙂.”

In another post, written in the immediate aftermath of her Marbella misfortune, Findlay explained how the pain had simply been too much for her to bear.

‘The one thing I cared about has gone so wrong’

“Heartbroken to end the world championships with a DNF 💔 I’ve spent the last 24 hours going over what I’d do differently, how I messed this up so badly – the one thing I cared about most this year going so wrong,” she said.

“I started the race thinking I’d give everything on the bike, and there was a chance I could run through the pain, but at 1km it was very clear that finishing would not be smart.

“Thank you so much to everyone in my corner who supports me, especially on these very hard days. Injuries are part of the sport. They happen to everyone, and I will be ok! Congratulations to Jelle and Lucy, two very deserving and inspiring world champs 🙂.”

Findlay currently sits ninth in the T100 World Triathlon Tour rankings, with the event in Dubai this weekend certainly regarded as a great opportunity missed for her to pick up valuable championship points ahead of the grand final in Qatar on the weekend of December 10-13.

Her last outing on the T100 Tour was in August, when she finished second behind Ashleigh Gentle in the French Riviera.