The inspiring rise to stardom of Norfolk triathlete Kimberley Morrison hits the big stage in the USA this weekend.

Eastern Daily Press: Professional triathlete Kimberley Morrison is preparing for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in the USA. Picture: Ian BurtProfessional triathlete Kimberley Morrison is preparing for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in the USA. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2017)

Born with two holes in her heart and requiring complex surgery at three years of age, Morrison is now preparing for her first crack at the Ironman70.3 World Championships. The 29-year-old is in the United States preparing for Saturday’s big event – just two years since turning professional – in Tennessee.

“My ambitions for the World Championships are a top-10 finish,” said Morrison, from Bale, near Fakenham.

“I’m excited and focused on enjoying the experience of my first World Championship start line and going out to beat my current ranking of finishing 24th in a field 50 deep.

“Tennessee will be packed with the world’s best triathletes and to heat things up even more the weather is set to be over 30 degrees!

Eastern Daily Press: Professional triathlete Kimberley Morrison is preparing for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in the USA. Picture: Ian BurtProfessional triathlete Kimberley Morrison is preparing for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in the USA. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2017)

“I’ve spent 10 days out in Fuerteventura on a training camp so I’m happy the adaption to the heat is in the body and I can begin to thrive at warmer races.”

Morrison’s first race as a senior triathlete was five years ago and her rapid success led to the decision to turn professional in September 2015 – taking her around the globe and bringing some super success.

Winning Ironman70.3 Buenos Aires, setting a course record for the cycle stage at the event in Argentina in the process, began her success in March last year.

Podium finishes in Staffordshire and Sweden were then added to with victory at Ironman70.3 Texas in April, again setting a course record on the bike.

Ironman70.3 is the half distance of the full Ironman events and consists of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56km cycle and a 13.1-mile run.

Now Morrison is preparing to face the likes of reigning champion Holly Lawrence, a fellow British athlete who won last year’s race in Australia, at the discipline’s showpiece event in Chattanooga this weekend.

Morrison added: “I absolutely love the opportunity to be competing as a professional athlete and I’m so grateful that the support team surrounding me is giving me the success of multiple podiums and wins in my relatively short career.”

• For more on Morrison’s hopes, see today’s Eastern Daily Press or Norwich Evening News