SWIMMING 30 laps of the pool, taking the bike for a 40km ride, and then shooting off for a 10km run is all in a day’s work for Palmwoods’ Dean Fullford.

And if that work-load has got you out of breath, try adding three hours worth of transport to Brisbane three days a week to attend to university.

With this kind of talent and motivation, it is no wonder Dean has been selected to represent Australia in the physically challenged triathlon at the next World Championships in Perth later this year.

Dean said he was "elated" when he received news of his selection.

"I just couldn’t believe it," he said. "I was so excited I was jumping up and down by the phone. It was just fantastic."

Dean discovered the competition on the Internet, on the physically challenged triathletes home page.

"I hadn’t realised there were so many disabled triathletes out there," he said.

Dean lost his leg from the knee in a motorcycle accident 11 years ago.

He became involved in triathlons because of a need to do some cross-training to complement his swimming program.

"I work at the Palmwoods Swimming Pool as a lifeguard and I’ve always been a swimmer," he said. "Eventually I decided to buy a bike to do a little bit of cross-training, and my mates got out their old bikes and we tried a few triathlons."

Dean then started to compete in a number of local events, and even formed a triathlon club at the pool.

Dean said he was looking forward to the new experience of competing against other physically challenged athletes.

"I’ve always competed against able bodied athletes so it will be something new to compete in the physically challenged category at the World Championships," he said.

But when he’s out on the bike, on the road or in the pool, it is himself he is competing with.

"You go out there and try to beat your best time. It’s the challenge of it that I enjoy," he said.

Despite being selected in the team, there are still a few more challenges for Dean to make before the competition begins.

He needs $7000 to make the trip to Perth, the bulk of it to be spent on a new artificial leg.

"The leg I’ve got at the moment is really old and I guess it is made for walking. It’s not designed for tackling triathlons," he said. "I need a new leg to get through the competition. The new leg will have a special spring system which gives you some lift off the ground."

Costing $4000, the new leg has a special cushioning system to make it more comfortable.

Dean said he was grateful to former pro-surfer Robbie Sherwell who had become his only sponsor.

He now needs two more major sponsors, whose logos will appear on the front of his green and gold Australian jumper when he competes.

But until then, it will be more early morning training sessions and long nights hitting the books for Palmwoods’ own triathlon champion.