Forbes 'honoured' to be Jersey's Island Games flagbearer
Claire Forbes has been competing for Jersey at the Island Games for 38 years
- Published
Claire Forbes says it is an honour to be named Jersey's flagbearer for the opening ceremony of the 2025 Island Games in Orkney.
The 54-year-old triathlete has competed at the event for almost four decades - first taking part in athletics in the second edition of the Games in 1987.
She won 800m gold in 1993 in a record time that stood for 12 years before latterly becoming a triathlete and winning team silver medals at the last two Island Games.
"I'm representing Jersey both as a triathlete and as the flagbearer, and it's a fabulous honour," she told BBC Radio Jersey.
"I'm looking forward to carrying our islands into the spirit of the Games, into the opening ceremony, and then channelling the same pride that I will be having carrying the flag into my race."
'Weather will be a real challenge'
Forbes won four Island Games medals in the early days of the event - a 1500m silver in in 1987 before dominating the middle distance races four years later as she added 1500m and 3000m golds to her 800m record.
But she says she found a new lease of life when she took up triathlon later in life.
"I started with a group of like-minded ladies; we all got into triathlon together and I've been very, very fortunate - this is my third Games in triathlon and it really means the world to me and that's why I'm determined to go this time," says Forbes, who will be the sole female triathlete representing Jersey at this year's event in Orkney.
"What's lovely is the men have accepted me as part of their group and we met up last night and there really is a lovely energy that flows between us.
"There's lots of aspects of these Games that we haven't encountered before, and mainly it's the cold - the weather is going to be a real challenge, the sea at the moment is 10.9 degrees, which is freezing for us.
"So we're all trying to come together and think of a plan as to how we can combat that and not let the cold get to us.
"We had a lovely hot games in Gibraltar [in 2019], which was amazing because it was lovely and warm, then we had Guernsey [in 2023] and it was beautifully warm on that day as well and now we've got Orkney. I looked on the weather today and it's rained all day and it says it's 12C, but feels like nine."
Forbes says she has been inspired by the younger members of her team as she prepares to compete for Jersey 38 years after first putting on her running spikes for the island.
"I just feel that for me, true competition isn't about beating the others, it's about showing up, it's about doing this sport with a big heart, being courageous and at the same time being really determined," she added.
"I'm sort of like an older athlete and I do get some of the youngsters coming and asking me little questions and I love it actually. I love hanging out with them and you learn from them because triathlon has changed so much.
"Although we're in the same club and same team, the youngsters coming through are on a different level to some of the older athletes because they learn a lot quicker, their skill base is a lot more developed at a younger age than someone like myself."