Zoe Danko-McAlister is an 18-year-old triathlete based in Tullyallen, she got into triathlon (swim, bike, and run)  in 2017 when a coach saw her swimming lengths and asked her to try out a couple of training sessions with the triathlon club. 

Now, four years later, she is Ireland’s Junior National Aquathlon (swim and run) Champion, and has qualified to represent Ireland at the 2023 European Championships in Madrid, and the World Triathlon championships in Hamburg. 

Zoe says she is incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to race for Ireland and hopes to make the country proud but, in order to achieve her goal, she must find the funds to cover the cost of travelling to these international races.

Zoe was born in Phoenix, and has moved around Europe with her family and spent most of her childhood in Prague and London. 

She moved to Drogheda in 2019 and lost no time in becoming a member of the Drogheda Triathlon Club. She says she has found Ireland to be the most welcoming country she has lived in. She plans to attend the University of Limerick this autumn to study nursing.   

The estimated costs, including race fees, accommodation, flights, meals, bike transportation, Ireland sports kit, etc., are €2,703.00 for the European championships and €1,519.00 for the World championships. 

Having approached local companies seeking sponsorship but with little success, Zoe has now launched a GoFundMe page and is hoping that local people will chip in to help her realise her dream. 

However, if there are any local companies interested in helping Zoe by way of sponsorship, she is offering spaces on her Irish tri-suit for advertising company logos etc. 

“I understand that there are many pressures and unexpected costs these days, but any level of sponsorship would be extremely helpful and much appreciated” she says. You can contact Zoe initially at zoe.dankomcalister@gmail.com