Nearly 3000 Perth kids will attempt to get their name in the record books during a triathlon on Sunday.
The children are taking part in the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRY-athlon at Langley Park.
Organisers are trying to make it the largest children’s triathlon series on the planet in a world record attempt.
Some 25,000 children in New Zealand and 15,000 in Australia will take part in the series – including 2800 in the Perth leg.
Children aged between seven and 15 will swim up to 200m, cycle up to 6km and run up to 1km.
West Coast Eagle draftee Scott Selwood, an ambassador at Sunday’s triathlon in Perth, said it was important for kids to be active.
The 17-year-old said the triathlon was not about children winning or losing but encouraged them to become active.
“That might teach them to try new things or get out there and be a bit more active,” Selwood said.
The young footballer is from a well-known AFL family and is the youngest of four Selwood brothers playing the sport.
He was one of the youngest players selected in last year's AFL draft and has his sights set on playing in the senior team.
Selwood said he and his brothers were always encouraged to play sports growing up and they made good use of the family’s tennis court and big backyard.
“Mum and dad always told us to get out there and make sure we used it and we always did and were pretty active little kids.
“We pretty much played every sport there is to play I think and in the end we just loved footy so continued on with footy obviously.”
Selwood said many kids today seemed more attracted to playing a Playstation game than kicking a football.
“With this (the triathlon) I think it is teaching them a good habit at an early age.”West Leederville’s Sarah Edwards, 12, and her brothers Tom, 9, and Nicholas, 7, are keen to take part in Sunday world-record attempt.
Their mum Debbie said that the trio were always encouraged to be active after school and lead healthy lifestyles.
Mrs Edwards said that she did not let her children watch television during the week and they did not have a Playstation.
They swam most days after school in summer.
“We are just very aware that they are active in terms of their health and being preventative,” Mrs Edwards said.
KAREN HODGE