Roz Purcell has hit out at misogynists who think that women can’t do IronMans, telling them: “Have a serious rethink.”
The former Miss Universe Ireland recently competed in an Austrian version – where you have a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a marathon 26.2-mile run.
And Roz, 24, powered through despite it being her first time even swimming outside of a pool.
“Anyone who thinks that IronMan competitions are too hard for girls needs to have a serious rethink.
Couple: Roz and Bressie training in the sun over Christmas
“It’s basically all about training, it’s not about being an expert in any field. I only learned to swim last year, and the competition in Austria was the first time that I swam in open water.
“I had a bit of a panic attack when I started, because my goggles broke, but I had a blast in the end. It helped that the sea in Austria’s summer was like taking a bath.”
But Roz revealed that even when she’s not in serious training for an event, she’ll never become a couch potato.
She added: “I try to do two work outs on my days off, but normally I do 45 minutes of exercise a day.
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“I mix it up as much as I can. Sometimes I train with my personal trainer, but other times I’ll just go running or sprinting outside. I love running – it really clears you mind.”
And Roz – who along with boyfriend Bressie were voted Ireland’s hottest couple – makes sure her diet is up to scratch too and has banned gluten from her diet.
She told Star Chic: “I’m not a coeliac, but I find I get really bloated if I eat gluten, so I avoid it. I feel so much better without it.
“I cook everything from scratch, and I avoid anything processed as much as I can. No ready meals for me.”
