UAE Olympians Nada Al Bedwawi, Ayesha Al Balooshi and Yousif Mirza will join forces to take part in the ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi as a relay team when the event comes to the capital on March 3-4, 2017.

In a bid to encourage more Emiratis to follow in their footsteps, swimmer and flagbearer Al Bedwawi, weightlifter Al Balooshi and star cyclist Mirza will participate in a triathlon for the first time after starring for the UAE at the Rio Olympics last summer.

Al Bedwawi, who became the first female swimmer to represent the UAE in an international competition when she joined Alia Al Shamsi at the World Championships in Kazan in 2015, is hoping to inspire more Emiratis to take up sport.

“I’ve always liked a challenge and triathlon has been a sport I have been very keen to try out for a while now for many reasons, but most importantly because it features a swim leg,” said Al Bedwawi, the UAE’s first female Olympic swimmer.

“Since my return from Rio I’ve had a growing urge to help encourage UAE’s youth to get active, try different sports and, most importantly, have fun with it.

“The ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi not only gives first-timers the chance to participate by offering the Sprint distance, but there is also the option of doing it as a relay team as we are, which is the best part.”

Al Bedwawi will do the swim leg of the race, Mirza will take over cycling duties while Al Balooshi will be running.