This Oscar-winning Netflix film writer is also a world champion triathlete: All Quiet on the Western Front’s Lesley Paterson, and her 10 top tips for success

Lesley Paterson is a woman of many accomplishments. She's a world champion triathlete, a bestselling author, and the screenwriter and producer of the Oscar-winning Netflix film 'All Quiet on the Western Front. ' Despite having competed in over 400 triathlons, Paterson considers her screenplay to be her greatest test of endurance, as it took 16 years to complete. Born in Stirling, Scotland, Paterson was raised in a disciplined but loving environment. Her parents were strict but caring, and they instilled in her the importance of physical activity from an early age. At the age of seven, she joined a boys' rugby team, becoming the only girl her age in Scotland to do so. In addition to rugby, Paterson also took ballet classes and enjoyed fell running with her father. At 13, she was introduced to the world of triathlons, a multi-sport race consisting of swimming, cycling, and running. Paterson continued to compete in triathlons while studying English and drama at Loughborough University in England, and later while pursuing a master's degree in theatre at San Diego State University in California. She won the Xterra World Championships in 2011, 2012, and 2018, and the World Triathlon Cross Championships in 2012 and 2018. In addition to her athletic achievements, Paterson co-wrote the screenplay for 'All Quiet on the Western Front,' based on a 1929 novel by Erich Maria Remarque. The film won seven awards at the 2023 Baftas and four Oscars at the 95th Academy Awards. Despite her many accolades, Paterson remains humble and personable, attributing her grounded nature to her upbringing. She offers several tips for building mental fortitude, including setting well-defined goals, breaking goals into smaller steps, avoiding self-sabotage, practicing discipline, and rewarding oneself. In terms of physical stamina, Paterson recommends incremental training, eating a diet of whole, unprocessed foods, getting regular sports massages, tracking heart rate variability, and ensuring adequate sleep.