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Gerhard De Bruin- triathlon trainer
Gerhard de Bruin's childhood was filled with sports. When he was just 7 years old, he discovered his passion for Cross Country running. As time went on, he became aware of the countless other sports available to him and eagerly took part in every activity offered by his school.
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Being a South African citizen, Rugby, Cricket and Swimming were a few of the most popular sports to choose from. Since Gerhard was naturally talented, especially in sprinting, he started athletics and later on cycling at the age of 13 and competed in local road races around the Free-state province of South Africa.
In 2000 Gerhard took part in his first Duathlon on the Tempe Military base in Bloemfontein. A year later, under the guidance of his then-coach Franna Voster (world age group champion at a point), Gerhard progressed naturally into triathlon.
In 2001, the sport had just had its debut at the Olympic Games, and the sport grew phenomenally, as did other athletes’ dreams of qualifying for the Olympics. Gerhard then chose to pursue Triathlon as a whole and set out to obtain a Sport Psychology degree at the University of Pretoria in 2004.
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In 2005, Gerhard competed in his first World Age Group Triathlon Championship. Whilst studying, it was mandatory to coach athletes to obtain their degrees. Gerhard coached primary and secondary school learners in Swimming, Cross Country, Cricket and Hockey.
After failing to reach the 2008 Olympic Qualification Criteria, Gerhard dedicated himself to full-time triathlon racing and coaching. After a few years of hosting training camps, he honed his natural skillset, in order to work with triathletes from all walks of life. Since 2006, his training camps located in the magnificent Golden Gate, South Africa, have experienced continuous growth and have attracted over a thousand athletes from various corners of the globe.
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Join Gerhard and the De Bruin Train community today, and let us help you achieve your goals, no matter where you are in the world.
Our coaching services are not limited to the UAE but also extend to athletes in Africa, Europe, and beyond. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced triathlete, we have the knowledge and experience to help you reach your full potential.
Contact us today and become a part of the De Bruin Train community, where athletes from all over the world come together to achieve their dreams in triathlon.
In 2008 Gerhard did his first half Ironman as a professional athlete, and became a full-time professional in 2010, racing on the European circuit. After yet another Olympic Games passed in 2012, his focus shifted to developing his unique style of coaching, alongside his professional racing. It was only once he started training with Trisutto (Brett Sutton, Jo Spindler), that his methodology of coaching really got amplified, he had built confidence as his experience increased and he had reaped the rewards for his tenacity.
After training camps in Boulder, USA in 2014 and completing the Training Peaks coaching courses, he started racing his first Ironman distance events. This gave him a hunger to grow within himself even more, for the benefit of other athletes. He was fortunate enough to train with the top names in the sport and really got to understand all sides of triathlon training. He saw this as an opportunity to spread the knowledge he was so grateful to receive. In 2017 he coached his first couch-to-Kona athlete, who placed 3rd place at Ironman World Championships in Kona, and since then he has reached multiple podiums for athletes on all distances and all levels.
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Gerhard’s strength lies in his brutal honesty and great communication skills. He will send you feedback and check in when you least expect it. Neither his degree nor his experience in triathlon will ever exceed his generous personality, which will absolutely get the most out of you as an athlete. He will inspire you to believe you can do anything, and then get you there.
Counting 22+ years in triathlon, multiple world stage events, endless lessons learned from the best of the best and his unique holistic approach will want you to be a better triathlete day in and day out. If you ever get an opportunity to work under Gerhard, he will impact your life in a way that no one else can, and you will also build a friendship for life.
Qualifications:
Bachelor in Sports Science, Psychology 2008
Training Peaks level 1-2
Triathlon SA Level 1
Triathlon SA referee course level 1
Endure IQ Coaching LT 102, 104, Heat training
First Aid Level 1-2