Sumaya Hussain, founder of The Triathlete Factory (TTF), shares her passion for sports and children, detailing how she transformed her love for fitness into a thriving academy that shapes the lives of young athletes. Through resilience and community spirit, her centre is not just training kids for triathlons, but also instilling lifelong values. Edwin D’Souza shares her inspiring story.
As someone that has always led an active lifestyle, Sumaya Hussain’s move to inspire the younger generation was natural.
Her earliest memory of fitness included participating in tennis matches, being a key player in basketball, and even taking up Kung Fu as a child. “In 2017, I started cycling and later took up running. By 2018, I was officially introduced to the world of triathlons as I began training for my first IRONMAN,” Sumaya reminisces.
The idea for The Triathlete Factory – which now has a lasting impact on young athletes – came to Sumaya during the pandemic. “While the entire world, including my kids, was locked at home, I was still able to run on roads, ride my bike, and swim in the sea. I noticed how bored my kids were, and the time I spent training sparked the idea of a triathlon academy. Then by January 2021, TTF was born.”
The main goal of TTF is to promote physical fitness, skill development, confidence and resilience among children while fostering a supportive community. “The centre helps shape children’s habits and instills essential values through triathlon training,” she believes. “Besides learning how to swim, bike and run, the kids develop social interaction skills, resilience, perseverance, healthy lifestyle choices and confidence.”
TTF trains children between the ages of four and 15, tailoring programmes to suit different age groups, including Kids Level, Juniors and Teens. When asked about the ideal duration for children to prepare for a triathlon, Sumaya recommends, “A preparation period of eight to 12 weeks is ideal for most youth triathlons, depending on the child’s age, fitness level and the distance of the triathlon.”
“We have participated in over 40 races in Bahrain and Qatar, and in each race, we always had a podium representative. The beauty of the community forming at TTF is that it’s one big supportive family. The number of little friendships forming, even among parents who were inspired to take up sports is incredible,” she shares.
To keep children engaged and motivated, TTF employs a range of strategies. “Our coaches are wonderful — they are engaging and fun. We’ve also created our mascot, Teddy F, and his little brothers. Everyone loves Teddy F, and we give him to spend a week with the star of the class. We also have cute stickers, circle time to emphasise good behaviour, and an annual TTF award ceremony,” Sumaya explained.
Sumaya’s focus on training children rather than adults is deeply rooted in her passion for working with kids. “I know how to connect with them. The children have improved physically and mentally, and the strength of this supportive community is priceless They are the beautiful future,” she says.
“I always dreamt of touching people’s lives and being a force of change. I am living my dream now, watching kids and families change their mindset and adopt sports as part of their lifestyle. Witnessing the transformation in their personalities is truly rewarding.”
