As Warwick Academy students walk the halls of the school every day, it is hard not to think of those that have walked before, where they are now and what are they doing.

This is particularly important to two of the Warwick Academy triathletes, Nicholas Pilgrim and Caleb Ingham.

As Warwick Academy announced last week that they are dedicating their swimming facility to Flora Duffy, alumna and number one female triathlete in the world for two years in a row, the boys have a lot to look up to. Nicholas and Caleb are part of the new High Performance Swim Programme, which started this year at Warwick. As swimming is one third of the triathlon, being able to benefit from the intensive swim training and strength and conditioning is a huge bonus for these two athletes.

Nicholas said: “Being able to take advantage of this at school is wonderful and it will be a huge benefit in the future.”

Nicholas, 14, is fresh off his amazing third-place podium finish this past weekend in the Tokio Millennium triathlon where he competed in the adult men category along with Caleb who finished twelfth in a very strong field. For two 14-year-old boys to compete against the men is a huge feat.

Both boys are aware of the huge accomplishment that their former schoolmate has achieved. Caleb reflected: “To think that Flora came from the same school, from the same small island and that she has won the ITU World Triathlon Series twice along with all the world Xterra Championships is amazing. She is so inspiring.”

Both Nicholas and Caleb are working hard as they move forward. They will be competing in five races in the United States this year. They recognise that there is not a lot of competition here in Bermuda and that they will travel to compete in a more elite field of triathletes in their age range.

As for the future, Nicholas said: “I want to see how far I can take it and when you see how far Flora has taken it, well coming from Warwick Academy and Bermuda, anything is possible.”

Up close and personal

Name: Nicholas Pilgrim

Age: 14

How did you get introduced to triathlon?

I was introduced to triathlon at an early age as my older sister and brothers all competed in triathlon from an early age. I always went watch them competing when I was younger.

How long have you been competing?

I did my first IronKids peewee race when I was about 4. I started competing in local triathlons when I was 7 or 6.

What is your weekly training schedule?

I am a member of a USA Triathlon high-performance youth team called Endorphin Fitness which is based in Richmond, Virginia.

My coach sets my weekly training schedule on Training Peaks. A typical week’s training is:

Monday: 1 hour at running club (MAAC Juniors) and 2 hours swim training with Harbour Swim Club;

Tuesday: 1 hour bike ride before school, and 1½-hour swim training with Harbour after school;

Wednesday: 1 hour running club and 2 hours swimming after school;

Thursday: 1½-hour swim training at school (with the Warwick Academy programme), followed by a 1-hour brick session (cycling on a wind trainer followed by running) at the National Stadium with Neil de St Croix, the TriHedz coach

Friday: 1½-hour swim training before school, and 1-hour run club after school.

Saturday: 2-hour endurance bike ride, and 1½-hour swim (open water or stroke development work)

Sunday: usually a rest day unless there is a race

I also do 2 to 3 strength and conditioning sessions a week with the Warwick swim programme coach, Nic Patterson.

What have been some of your highlights in triathlon to date?

I have been racing in the USA Triathlon Youth Elite series races for 13-15 year olds for the last two years. Last year, I was placing in the top 20s (usually out of about 65-70 competitors from all over the US), but this year I had three top-ten performances, and I qualified for the USA National Championships. As I am not a US citizen, I was awarded a solidarity invitation to compete. I have won the Iron Kids competition for the past two years and was second the year before that. I also competed in and won the first Caribbean Triathlon Championships in Miami in 2016, which was slightly shorter than a sprint distance.

I came twelfth in the Canadian National Championships in Ottawa in 2016, and third in the Quebec Cup Under-13 race in Magog, Canada the same year.

What are the next competitions on the calendar for you?

There are two more local races in Bermuda this year in October which I will be competing in.

The racing season starts up again next year in March with USAT Youth Elite (13-15 year olds) races in Clermont and Sarasota, Florida. I will probably compete in 3 to 4 Youth Elite races in the US, and one or two in Canada. I will be at the top end of the age group next year so it will be interesting to see how I do.

Name: Caleb Ingham

Age: 14

How did you get introduced to triathlon?

I was introduced to triathlon by competing in a local Iron Kids race held by Capital G.

How long have you been competing?

I was 5 years old, I believe, when I did the first Capital G Iron Kids race so that would be approximately 9 years.

What is your weekly training schedule?

My weekly training schedule consists of five weekly swims, five running sessions, three strength and conditioning sessions, three cycle workouts and one brick session.

What have been some of your highlights in triathlon to date?

Receiving the National Junior Athlete Award for Triathlon in 2016, an invitation to run with Flora Duffy from Tokio Millennium, and having the opportunity to represent Bermuda overseas has been some of the highlights in my triathlon career.

What are the next competitions on the calendar for you?

Aon and Catlin Triathlons which are both local races upcoming in October and a couple races in the New Year overseas.