Tia Watson crossing the finish line with her brother to break a new world record. Photo: Team Angel Wolf
Tia Watson crossing the finish line with her brother to break a new world record. Photo: Team Angel Wolf
Tia Watson crossing the finish line with her brother to break a new world record. Photo: Team Angel Wolf
Tia Watson crossing the finish line with her brother to break a new world record. Photo: Team Angel Wolf

Siblings in Dubai break gruelling world record to spread message of inclusion


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It was almost 14 long weeks after Tia Watson, 16, achieved her dream of breaking a Guinness World Record that she got the official certificate. “It was emotional,” Tia's father, Nick Watson, tells The National. “It was quite tense, so when we finally got the confirmation, it was mostly a big relief on all parts.”

Tia, who lives with her family in Dubai, now has the record for “fastest time to complete an Olympic-distance triathlon while carrying a person”. She achieved this alongside her brother Rio, 20, who was born with a rare chromosome disorder called 1q44 deletion de novo syndrome that causes several disabilities.

To secure the title, Tia swam 1.5km while pulling Rio in a kayak, then cycled 40km on an adaptive bike that has a seat for her brother in the front, and finally ran 10km pushing him in a running chair.

Tia Watson swam 1.5km while pulling brother Rio in a kayak. Photo: Team Angel Wolf
Tia Watson swam 1.5km while pulling brother Rio in a kayak. Photo: Team Angel Wolf

It has been Tia’s dream to break a record since she was only 6 years old. “I was determined to complete one,” she tells The National. “When I race with Rio, I see how much it has impacted his life, being more included in the community, especially in a sport that he deeply loves. Inclusive racing is his true passion and purpose in life.

“Seeing him being involved in a sport and knowing he is happy, makes me so happy,” she adds.

Although this record was specifically created for Tia, the criteria from Guinness was strict. She had to be younger than Rio and weigh the same or less than him. They also asked the Watsons to set a time that would be enough of a challenge to make it all worth it. They chose three hours and 45 minutes. Tia had five minutes and 23 seconds left on the clock when she passed the finish line.

“On the day, me and the family were just trying to make sure they were safe,” says Nick. “It was only after that you really reflect on what she’s done and achieved. As a father, I don’t know if I can put it into words. I’m overwhelmed and super proud.”

As a former Royal Marine turned personal trainer and sports therapist, Nick is no stranger to extreme physical challenges. He’s also completed many races with Rio as part of awareness-raising activities for Team Angel Wolf, the family’s non-profit foundation in the UAE that promotes an inclusive, active life for all people of determination – or people with disabilities.

Tia Watson has wanted to break a record since she was six years old. Photo: Team Angel Wolf
Tia Watson has wanted to break a record since she was six years old. Photo: Team Angel Wolf

“It’s become who we are and what we do,” he says. Over the summer, for example, Nick cycled 100km daily around Al Qudra Cycling Track with Rio for 30 days in a campaign called Ride with Rio. “Again to tell the story, to talk about inclusion, making sure everyone is welcome and equal. This is what we know and how we spread our message.”

It’s been nearly nine years since Team Angel Wolf was set up and the family began to use sport as a way to raise awareness of people like Rio with disabilities. When asked if he’s seen a difference in the UAE’s approach to inclusion since then, Nick says: “100 per cent, yes. We’re in the process of doing work with government entities here and it’s coming from the very top where inclusion is becoming high on the agenda, especially in sports and schools.

“The word inclusion is being used a lot more and people of determination are in the spotlight. Like with anything, it will take time, but the progress since Rio was born has been remarkable.”

Yet while government initiatives are important, Nick also emphasises the significance of individual efforts. “Start with terminology, how to address someone. My wife has the best quote: ‘Accessibility has to start at home.’ We need to be able to welcome our neighbours, our friends, to be inclusive.”

Naturally, Tia’s grown up with this message at home, while watching her father complete incredible feats for the cause and her mother Delphine always helping in the background. “Tia has seen us race, but never said she doesn’t want to do it herself, always the contrary. She’s jumped in there and I’ve kind of passed on the baton,” says Nick.

Tia now has her eyes on completing the 70.3 distance, or essentially a Half Ironman, which comprises a 1.9km swim, 90km bike ride and 21.1km run. But she has to wait until she’s 18 to do that – and she’ll do it with Rio, says Nick.

“Rio would not be the person he is today without Tia,” he adds. “When they race together, Rio is super-excited. They have their own little giggles, their own language and comments they share together. They spur each other on. As a dad, that’s magic.

“I could never dream that it could have unfolded like it has. It’s been a remarkable journey and probably the beginning of something special for Tia.”

MATCH INFO

Norwich City 0 Southampton 3 (Ings 49', Armstrong 54', Redmond 79')

PROFILE OF HALAN

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

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TOURNAMENT INFO

Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia

UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri

Scoreline

Man Utd 2 Pogba 27', Martial 49'

Everton 1 Sigurdsson 77'

The biog

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Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance

Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.

Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.

The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.

Updated: September 07, 2023, 12:40 PM`