The admirable willpower of a Amersham triathlete pushed him to incredible lengths and going professional this year amid a tough health condition.

Max Poplawski, 26, from Amersham, became a professional triathlete this year despite a severe arthritis diagnosis called Ankylosing Spondylitis nine years ago in his teens.

During a painful arthritis flare-up Max can’t move.

In triathlon, athletes compete in three fields: swimming, cycling and running. Olympic triathlon length totals 51.5km and the demanding Ironman race can be up to 226km.

Max was a successful amateur triathlete before going pro this year to fulfil his dream while working full-time as an account manager and studying to become a lawyer.

Max grasped early what many won’t until later in mid-life or sadly ever: “I have an appreciation of time and the distinct lack of it and how it can disappear overnight.”

That mentality came from the diagnosis.

“I’ve learnt a lot of lessons because of arthritis and the cards it has dealt me. This sounds quite bad but I’m a much better person for it, which is quite hard to stomach sometimes.

“Before the diagnosis I was floating through school, I was my parents’ worst nightmare and putting in the bare minimum of effort. Classic teenage boy and it drove my parents, teachers and coaches insane.

“And then I got diagnosed and everything was taken away from me in that one quick moment and suddenly all the things not important in your life become very quiet. And you suddenly are very aware of what you want.”

Max wanted an academic career in criminal law and sport: “I’m chasing both. It’s working, I’m exhausted but it’s working,” he said.

His savvy approach means once professional sports is over for him he has a plan b, something all athletes should think about.

Max recently passed the law bar exam but until his body and mind can manage the impact of professional training, sports will take priority.

“My sporting career because of my health issues is much more time pressured than my professional career. I can do the bar long after my body has decided to stop working.”

The athletes’ career splits into two: before and after the arthritis diagnosis.

“At 17 I struggled with the diagnosis for a few years and was quite angry about it and didn’t understand why. And I still don’t. I still have those days.

“I had a flare two days ago and I woke up yesterday unable to walk downstairs for no good reason as I was completely fine the night before.

“In my head I know there was a point I was totally healthy and nothing was wrong with me. And now it’s a very different chapter.

“It hits young teenagers a lot harder: do I go to university or a gap year while I figure out my health, do I stay in the UK or go abroad?

“Everyone makes those decisions but the consequences of those decisions are different: if I go abroad as it is much harder for me to get home if something goes wrong, how about my parents’ support or hospital appointments.

“It all worked out but it has been a challenge to find out what works for me”

Max started swimming out of competitiveness to match his sister who was also a swimmer.

While disease progression and how the body reacts to medication varies between those with arthritis, people with arthritis are advised to exercise to keep their joints mobile regardless of the level of sports.

Anyone inspired to take up triathlon should start swimming as young as possible, he said and recommended the Amersham Swimming Club with their brand-new pool at the Chilterns Lifestyle Centre and the Chiltern Harriers Athletics Club for those looking to start running in the new year.

“I don’t want to be seen as the ceiling. I want to keep on pushing until someone sees the ceiling and thinks ‘okay they’ve reached that, there is no reason I can’t at least get to that point and maybe even further’.

“My goal is to continuously to elevate the ceiling of what could be possible for someone.”

As a keen advocate, Max also joined the Versus Arthritis Young Persons Panel, a body advising arthritis charities about outreach better tailored for the estimated 20,000 young people living with the condition in the UK because after his diagnosis he couldn’t relate to the support designed for older people.