Triathlon: Sam Humphries proving that triathlon 'is tough enough!'

Sam Humphries (team TRI UK Gatorade) was selected as one of 24 competitors to battle it out on the BBC 2 TV show 'SAS - Are You Tough Enough?' With the programme coming to a close, Sam is one of four contestants still in the running to complete the training, showing that triathletes really are some of the 'toughest' athletes around.

With a background in cycling, having won the National Mountain Bike Championships and coming 5th at the World Championships, Sam moved into triathlon where he has been competing for the past 4 years, more recently in 2004 becoming a member of Europe's most successful triathlon team, TRI UK Gatorade.

Throughout Sam's sporting career, he has overcome barriers that would have stopped the lesser motivated in their tracks. At the height of his cycling career in 1994, Sam was diagnosed with M.E. which completely destroyed his immune system. Recovering from both the health issues and lack of self-confidence Sam eased back into sport, by exercising just 10 mins a day. Sam now trains six days a week and competes in a host of triathlons most notably finishing 5th at the World Xterra Championships, off-road triathlon.

The 'SAS - Are You Tough Enough?', presented by Dermot O'Leary on BBC 2 at 9pm Sundays, takes the participants through the mental and physical rigors of an SAS selection-training programme. Through the programme fit members of the public are put through navigation exercises, combat training, endurance tests, survival techniques and interrogation. With 24 volunteers, starting the programme has now come down to the final four.

Add to that the extreme heat and humidity of Namibia, the insects, dangerous animals, abrasive living conditions as well as the strong arm of the ex-SAS instructors who keep the constants on the straight and narrow, more than willing to dish out punishments for the slightest misdemeanour. It is a true test of anyone's physical and mental capabilities.

Following the programme, Sam will be focussing once again on his triathlon career where he has joined team TRI UK Gatorade which he applied for before going out to Namibia with the "SAS - Are You Tough Enough?', commenting: "I love a challenge myself to see what my limits are, so the SAS Are You Tough Enough programme seemed like an ideal opportunity to see if I could make it through the training." MOTo see the concluding programme and see how Sam does in the final stages of the show, tune into BBC 2 this Sunday 21st March. For more information on the Tri UK Race team visit www.triuk.com.