When 29-year-old Bryan McCrystal is not creating beautiful jewellery, the 6’3 Dundalk man can be found training for or participating in the trying sport of triathlons. What’s more, he’s usually to be found at the front of the competitive pack.
Bryan started his career as a footballer, and played with Leeds United for four years. He returned to Dundalk and League of Ireland football, but made the change to triathlons in 2008. He soon proved to be a formidable competitor, qualifying for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships at his first attempt. He started stringing up victories like beads in a necklace, and pulled off the remarkable feat of winning the National Series in 2009, only his second year of racing.
He kicked off 2010 with the organisation of the Setanta Sportsman’s Duathlon series in Dundalk, and played a major role in putting together the first Dundalk Half Marathon & 10km run, showing he was more than capable of arranging the smooth running of events as well as winning them. And win he did yet again, chalking up victories in the Columbia Cooley Legends Half Marathon and the Olympic distance TriAthy, among many other great performances and podium places. Bryan yet again led the Triathlon Ireland National Series in 2010.
Where does this family man and world class athlete find the time to train? Bryan has to arrange his swimming, cycling and running around his many responsibilities and time spent with his wife and one-year-old son. Whatever his secret is for managing all this, it works. Bryan McCrystal is a warm, friendly man, always has a kind word for beginners, and is an encouragement to everyone. Dundalk is richer for counting him among its citizens.
