Triathlon star Aileen Reid thrilled by role model status

Aileen Reid says letters and messages of support after her disappointing Olympics played a major role in boosting her morale.

The Derry triathlete is hoping her new training regime in Australia pays dividends in this year's ITU World Series.

Reid says she has put her disappointing Olympics behind her and aims to put in consistently good races in 2013 and her early-season performances have been promising as she finished third at the Devenport Sprint Triathlon in Australia and eighth in the World Series event in Yokohama.

The Derry woman, who got married at the end of last season, is also building towards representing Northern Ireland next year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow where her events may include a new mixed team replay.