Pembrokeshire boy Chris Gouldsmith certainly knows how to pack a punch when it comes to personal achievements.
In September 2014 he ran no fewer than ten marathons in 11 days in memory of his twin brother, Jonathan, who was an ex-Army ski expert who died in 2011, aged just 24, after being struck by a taxi whilst home on leave.
During the twelve years that Chris spent with the Royal Engineers, he went on to win the Europe Triathlon Winter Championships in Italy, (2018), and has competed no fewer than 12 Ironman and Ultra endurance events.
Last month, not to be un-phased by yet another challenge, Chris competed in the World Triathlon Winter Championships in Norway.
“Taking part in this competition was extremely important to me because I competed for my twin brother Jonathan who sadly passed away,” said the 36-year-old who now works as an assistant site manager with house builders Bellway Redlands Grove Development in Swindon.
“ Jonathan was an Army ski expert and had high hopes for competing in the Olympics. So I know he was there with me in spirit.”
The Bellway construction company donated £400 for a bike box that safely transported Chris’s specialist bike to Skeikampen for the duathlon and triathlon events.
The competition involved run and mountain bike sections on snow, followed by cross-country skiing that took place on March 24 and 26 respectively.
“Bellway’s donation helped me to achieve my goals and represent Team GB in the best possible conditions,” continued Chris, who is otherwise known as Goldie.
Both brothers served in Afghanistan, Chris with the Royal Engineers and Jonathan with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Chris was medically discharged in 2010 after being injured in service, but within a few years was coaching, organising and participating in multiple sporting events and raising money in memory of his brother.
Jonathan won the REME Ski Biathlon Championships in Austria in 2011, shortly before his death, and the event organisers renamed the trophy in his memory, which Chris was invited to present in Austria in 2016.
In January of this year Chris took part in the Europe Triathlon Winter Championships in Andorra and finished in fourth place.
“Mechanical issues with the bike and a fall changed the race drastically,” Chris said.
“But I’m very happy to have achieved fourth place considering the issues I had, and then last month at the World Triathlon Winter Championships, to come second in the duathlon races and fourth in the triathlon races was a great achievement.”
Meanwhile Rachel Way, Sales Manager for Bellway South West, said: “When Chris reached out to us and told us that he was looking for sponsorship to compete in the World Triathlon Winter Championships we were more than happy to help.
“His resilience and bravery are truly incredible and we congratulate him for his recent achievements in Norway. We look forward to following his progress.”
