Dubai : They have been officially recognised as the first family to sign up for the first Abu Dhabi Swimming Festival set to take place along the Corniche in October. But such statistics mean little to Peter and Jenny Mueller, along with their three children Sarah, Tom and Paul. Any family-oriented event that has anything to do with swimming or running or biking for that matter, and this triathlon-loving Australian family need no second invitation.
But when informed by a friend that organisers were looking to highlight the event as a family affair, the Muellers were only too happy to don the ambassadorial role.
"I don't know whether we are the first family to enter or not, we were going to do the event anyhow," said Peter. "But it was no problem for us. If we can help out in promoting it in any way then it's great."
First of its kind
The Muellers also competed in the inaugural Abu Dhabi International Triathlon in March this year. But in the seven years that they have lived in the UAE, even they believe that October's swimming spectacle is in many ways a first of its kind for the whole family. "This is probably the main one that has actually been aimed at the families," said 17-year-old Tom. Peter added: "There have been walk-like events like the Terry Fox run and others, but this is something that's really open to everybody. And we all do triathlon events so swimming is just one aspect of what we do."
All five family members are part of the Abu Dhabi Tri club and the Abu Dhabi Striders which pretty much ensures they hardly have to make special preparations for any event.
"We are doing one of the three every day," said Peter who cycles 10km every working day to his job at an environmental consultancy company. "On a Saturday morning we swim about 2.4km anyhow, so it's not necessarily a big preparation. And with the event being on a Saturday it means we'll just be swimming there instead of Bateen Beach," he added.
For the three siblings, a hectic schedule between school and training means late night parties and sleepovers are extremely rare luxuries. But they don't seem too regretful.
"There are things that I guess you do miss out on, but we all enjoy what we're doing," said Tom.
Competition is expected to be stiff with some enticing prizes on offer, but Tom and Sarah are just as determined to secure the bragging rights at home.
"Oh there is competition," said Tom. "Sarah used to be quickest till I beat her, now Paul has started to beat me."
Jenny all but confirmed that the children have inherited their fiery competitive streak from the father - a veteran of two Ironman events. "I'm not competitive, I just do it because I enjoy doing them," said Jenny.
All said and done, the Muellers hope they will just end up as the first of many families turning up in full force on the day.
