Sometimes, the biggest journeys start in the most unexpected ways. For Shane Skillin, his triathlon story began simply by waiting for a fitness class at his local leisure centre.
Shane is a triathlete and a member of Everybody Health & Leisure. Shane’s starting point was just like many others, turning up to a centre to get active and see what was on offer.
While waiting for a class to begin, Shane noticed someone handing out flyers for a local triathlon. On a whim, he entered. That single decision changed everything. Shane loved every minute of his first race, and from that moment on, he couldn’t stop. Training became a passion, and pushing himself became the norm, over time his fitness and results kept improving.
As Shane trained more consistently, his hard work started to pay off. Over time, he became fitter, stronger and more competitive. Two years ago, his dedication led to a huge milestone, Shane qualified for Team GB to compete internationally.
Having access to the Everybody Aspiring Athletes programme alongside the gym facilities have played a vital role in that journey. Shane credits the support he’s received, and the excellent facilities available to him as essential to his continued development as a triathlete.
Last year, however, Shane faced a major setback. A sudden health scare left him unable to eat or drink for over a week. During that time, he spent much of it in A&E and lost over 20% of his body weight. The impact was devastating, he felt like he’d lost years of fitness, especially with the 2024 European Championships only weeks away.
Once Shane recovered, his focus shifted to doing everything he could to get back to a level where he could still compete. He trained multiple times a day in the pool, working hard to rebuild what he’d lost. Having access to Everybody’s facilities made that possible, and without it, Shane believes he wouldn’t have been able to compete at the level he does today.
Being a triathlete means needing a wide range of physical attributes, and Shane makes full use of what Everybody offers. The swimming pool, running track, gym and fitness classes have all played a part. In Shane’s words: “the gym is excellent, the pool is excellent, and the classes have been great”. He uses all of them as part of his training and says it’s hard to find a flaw in the facilities.
Right now, Shane’s focus is firmly on what’s next. His current priorities include the Copenhagen 10k swim, his longest swimming race to date, and the 2026 World Multisport Championships in Abu Dhabi, where he will once again be competing for Team GB. Alongside these, he has several other events planned, but these two stand out as his biggest goals.
Shane’s advice for anyone thinking about trying a triathlon is simple and honest. Enjoy the journey, not just the destination. Choose a race that excites you and focus on enjoying the training. Triathlon training can be time intensive, and you’ll always train far more than you race. If you enjoy that process, you’ll not only stay committed, but you’ll perform better on race day too.
For anyone inspired by Shane’s story, Everybody Health & Leisure offers plenty of ways to get started or take things further. From swimming pools and gyms to running tracks, fitness classes and welcoming centres, there’s something for every pace and every goal. Whether you’re trying a new activity for the first time or pushing yourself to compete, you’ll find supportive spaces, great facilities and qualified people who want to help you live healthier and happier, your way.
Thinking of giving it a go? Shane’s journey shows that sometimes all it takes is turning up… and saying yes.