Being a Technical Official has taken Maisie Bancewicz from events in her own locale to events around the world, and she’s recently become the latest British Triathlon Technical Official, and the first from Scotland, to achieve World Triathlon’s Technical Official Level 3 qualification.
It was a busy 2021 for Bancewicz who was Chief Finish at the 2020 Paralympic Games as well as finalising her Level 3 qualification – all achieved alongside her job as an Advanced Practitioner in the NHS.
“Anytime you get appointed to a big event or complete a qualification it fills you with absolute elation because a lot of work goes into getting there,” Bancewicz said, who first got involved in swim, bike, run with Glasgow Triathlon Club in 1999. “The three events I did in 2021 couldn’t have been anymore different. I was Medical Delegate at the World Series in Leeds, Chief Finish in Tokyo and was also at The Craggy Island Triathlon off the north west of Scotland.
“You couldn’t get three more different events, in terms of conditions, role, size of event, but I enjoyed them all. That’s the great thing about this sport and being a technical official there are so many different opportunities and experiences.”
First involved in the sport as an athlete, completing IRONMAN New Zealand only a few years after her first triathlon, Bancewicz has also been involved in coaching and committee roles at clubs along with welfare and anti-doping duties, becoming a Technical Official in 2005.
“It was something I kind of fell into from necessity because at the time we didn’t have any Technical Officials in Scotland and I felt that it was important that this changed so that was where my drive came from,” Bancewicz reflected.
“But if you would have told me a journey that started at a local event in Loch Lomond would take me to events around the world including Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games, I’d have thought you were having a laugh.”
Her enjoyment of the sport and her role as a Technical Official sees Bancewicz use her annual leave to attend events which has included London 2012, Glasgow 2014, Rio 2016, Gold Coast 2018 and, most recently, Tokyo 2020.
“It has just been an amazing journey and continues to be something that is really interesting. I would encourage anyone to do it because you don’t necessarily have to want to work up to Level 3 or do big events, local or regional events are still just as enjoyable and there are many spectacular events and race venues across the UK.
“The payback you get from this role as a role is massive in terms of what you get out of it. You get such a unique perspective on events, so many different experiences and the people you meet through it make all of it worthwhile.”
