'I thought I wouldn't live past 30 - now I'm an Ironman'

Rania Shamel (above right) thought she would not live past 30, but now competes in Ironman competitions

A woman who thought she would not live past her 30th birthday after a 13-year struggle with anorexia has competed in one of the world's toughest endurance events.

Rania Shamel weighed less than five stone (28kg) and could not even swim at her lowest point in 2020 - but has now qualified for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.

The businesswoman from Scarborough, now 31, entered her first Ironman triathlon in Leeds in July and her time was enough to send her to the championships.

She said: "I'm now looking to make myself the strongest version of myself whereas before my goal was almost to make myself the weakest."

Two years ago Ms Shamel, who runs a dogsitting and walking service, had "no clue" what a triathlon was, could not swim and had never run a race.

When her best friend suggested doing an Ironman together, she thought "that sounds fun" - unaware of what a gruelling challenge lay ahead.

Ms Shamel completed her first full Ironman in Leeds and qualified for the World Championships in Hawaii

An Ironman consists of a 2.4-mile (3.8km) swim, a 112-mile (180km) bicycle ride and a 26-mile (42km) run.

Ms Shamel, who experienced heart problems and vision loss due to her eating disorder, began training diligently, focusing on building her strength and endurance from the ground up.

"It took about two or three years just to get my body back to a point where it was healthy enough," she said.

"I'd done quite a lot of internal damage, so it did take quite a long time."

After her first Half Ironman in 2024, Ms Shamel said she was "absolutely hooked".

"I found that it's helped me channel all my demons into this and that from there I just want to push and get stronger and better now physically," she said.

"It drives me on to eat and to just look after myself."

Last month, she completed her first full Ironman, describing the moment she crossed the finish line as "a bit of a blur".

"I always knew that if I could finally channel everything, those demons into something, then something special would happen," she said.

"But I just never thought that my body would hold up to be able to get me to that point.

Ms Shamel, who began suffering from anorexia in 2013, said: "I didn't think I'd get past 30. But I'm here for the ride and I'm loving it."

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