Searching for an Ironman

By Cheranka Mendis

Sri Lanka is the new destination on the global 70.3 calendar hosting the Ironman triathlon on Sunday. The first ever to be held in Asia, Ironman has managed to lure down over 250 triathlon athletes from world over.

Race Director Shannon Kurek told the Daily FT that a three year contract has been signed in the country for the event to be held here. The event will be held under two categories- 70.3 miles and 51.5 miles and will start at 6.00 am and 6.30 am respectively with the 1.9 km sea swim.

Starting at the Galle Face Green, the athletes, upon completion will take part in a 90 km cycling exercise and cap off the event with a 21 km run. The cyclists would take off from Galle Face cycle towards parliament grounds and come back to Galle Face three times and then do the run to Colpetty cutting across Marine Drive, Ramakrishna Avenue to Galle Face Green area twice.

Kurek noted that South Asia is the fastest growing area for triathlon and that a large number of athletes from UAE, Australia, Japan and Singapore are taking part of the event. There are some 20 Sri Lankan athletes as well.

“Sri Lanka is a great destination and in the post war developing stages of economy, such an event would help create positive images of the country both as a great destination and as one that is increasingly becoming popular for sports tourism.”

Headlining the men’s pro field is 2005 Ironman World Champion and 2011 Ironman European Champion Faris Al-Sultan. Last year’s top ten finisher at the Ironman 70.3 Wolrd Champion Alessandro Degasperi from Italy, Bryan Rhodes and Fredrik Croneborg of Sweden will also take part in the event.

From the ladies pro field Australian Ironman Champion Christie Sym, Dana Wagner and Lucie Zenakowa will take part.

“It has been noted that 25% of the registered athletes are first time Ironman 70.3 participants and the eldest athlete racing is a 75 year old multiple Ironman from Malaysia Sze Mun Yee.” He said that 35 countries are represented.

Ironman 70.3 in Sri Lanka is one of the 60 events in the global Ironman 70.3 series offering 25 age group qualifying slots for the 2012 Ironman World Championship to be held in September this year at Lake Las Vegas in Henderson.

 – Pic by Daminda Harsha Perera