A FORMER Paralympics star is going in search of triathlon glory this year as he pushes back the sporting boundaries with a four-man team.

Mark Fosbrook, manager of Worcester's Peak Fitness Club, is a double below knee amputee who has already starred at the 1996 Paralympics with the Great Britain volleyball team.

The 26-year-old, however, has been thinking over a move into the triathlon, despite the obvious difficulties.

Fosbrook became interested in the sport as county duo Steve Dudfield and Anthony Wilson prepare for the World Championships in November.

With volleyball having been removed from the Paralympics events list, Fosbrook has been forced into a change of sport and triathlon seemed a real challenge.

"I thought to myself, what could I do next," said Fosbrook.

"I wondered if any disabled people had ever done a triathlon before? It will definitely make me fit for whatever I decide to do next".

He has yet to set a date but is now in training for his first taste of the sport.

"The transition area will be more like a pitstop, as I will perform the swim without my legs on, put on my every day limbs for the cycle and use my sports legs for the run," he added.

Dudfield and Wilson, meanwhile, will be spearheading Worcestershire's bid for honours at the ITU World Triathlon Championships.

The duo are at present in the middle of a heavy winter training regime in order to qualify for the November championships in Cancun, Mexico.

Twenty-nine-year-old Dudfield, from Worcester, has previously represented Great Britain at the duathlon world age group championship in Germany during 1998, in the triathlon in Canada during 1999 and in Perth, Australia during 2000.

Wilson, 21, from Peopleton, has previously represented Great Britain by competing in the World Life Saving Championships in Sydney, Australia during 2000 and narrowly missed out in qualifying for the ITU World Triathlon Championships in Edmonton, Canada during 2001 by two places.

Steve Nyland is the fourth member of the team who is looking to make his mark this year.

The 25-year-old, who received a bone marrow transplant three-and-a-half years ago, has recently competed in the Transplant Games in Leeds, where he won two silver medals.

He claimed the medals in the 1,500m and the 5k races and was also a member of the volleyball team who took the bronze.

More than 1,500 athletes competed in the Games and Nyland is determined to take gold in all three disciplines when he competes again later this year.

"The Transplant Games are challenging and fun and it's great to able to show people what can be achieved, even after you've had a serious illness.

"Every single competitor owes their quality of life to a donor and we've all shown that we can now live life to the full.

"Mark and I are both training hard and Worcester athletic and swimming clubs deserve our thanks for their continued support."