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Jan 30 2013 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

WEST Kirby Hilbre High School pupil Caitlin Hanlon is reflecting on an enjoyable summer of Olympic Festival success.

On June 21, Caitlin and her older sister Kiera were part of the five girl Junior tri-4-life team who successfully completed the John Hulley Olympic Festival Across Mersey Aquathlon. This historic swim celebrated its 150th anniversary since first being recorded as an event in the Liverpool Olympic Festival of 1862.

Caitlin, who represents Merseytri triathlon club, made her own mark in history in 2011 as the youngest ever swimmer to complete this challenging event.

As the UK’s Olympic 2012 celebrations were closing in London, Caitlin and Kiera were starting an epic cycle journey from coast to coast across America as part of the tri-4-life USA 2012 team.

And what an Olympic summer 2012 turned out to be for this group of local family and friends from the tri-4-life team.

When the idea of cycling 2800 miles across the USA was first suggested way back in 2009, no one could have anticipated the huge impact and success this event would realise as their simple dream unfolded into astonishing reality.

As part of the GB London Olympics 2012 Celebrations, the tri-4-life supporting Charity Liverpool Heartbeat (Charity No 1120142) hosted The John Hulley Olympic Festival involving 50 Youth and Community Events across Merseyside Promoting Healthy Living & Lifestyle, Citizenship and helping those less fortunate, through the Olympic Ethos in Sport, Arts, Dance & Drama.

The tri-4-life USA 2012 Team are a group of 40 family and friends aged from 10 years to 68 years old, across three generations.

The team took their John Hulley Olympic message to the USA, aiming to involve US communities in their ambitious philanthropic endeavour. The success of the challenge saw the team Cycle 2800 miles across 10 States, linking 12 cities with the Olympic ’Hand of friendship’ Junior Road Show bringing the spirit of the ‘forgotten man of the modern Olympics’ to a worldwide twenty first century audience.