Triathlon is a demanding sport that requires balance in three disciplines. Zoe Bowden, who has been selected to compete for Malaysia at the SEA Games in the triathlon category, seems to have successfully found that balance.

A Garden International School (GIS) alumna and daughter of longtime contributor to The Expat, travel writer David Bowden, Zoe started participating in sports when she was five years old. She first got actively involved in swimming, athletic, T-ball and football. By nine, she was one of the strongest competitors in the racing field for her age. Neil Smith, the GIS primary deputy at that time, saw Zoe’s potential and introduced her to triathlon. “I was hooked immediately. It is such a unique sport, it really challenged me physically and mentally,” says Zoe, who built her sport experience by participating in competitions such as FOBISIA and ISAC championships. Her sportsmanship was celebrated through earning the school’s MVP award for Dragons swimming.

Zoe trains every day including holidays and school breaks. “I don’t have much free time but when I do, you can find me catching up on my favourite TV series, spending time with my friends, or going out to restaurants in town,” she adds.

Zoe always strives to compete with herself. “I set a realistic goal for myself, work hard to achieve it, and once I accomplish that goal, I set a bigger one and keep going,” she says. “I’mhoping to achieve top three at the SEA Games triathlon event this August. If all goes well, I’ll be aiming at qualifying for the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast and Asian Games next year. Eventually, my dreamis to compete in the Olympics in 2020,” she adds. All of us here at The Expat wish Zoe the very best in the upcoming SEA Games!

A version of this article was originally published in The Expat magazine (July 2017) which is available online or in print via a free subscription.