Jan Frodeno, Daniela Ryf and Lew Holander. - Photos by Juidin Bernarrd
Dubai - Twenty eight-year old Swiss superstar, Daniela is the 2015 Ironman World Champion (women) as well as the 2014 and 2015 Ironman 70.3 World Champion.
Published: Thu 28 Jan 2016, 7:04 PM
Powerful Bahrain Endurance, super charged by the presence of world champions Jan Frodeno and Daniela Ryf, gives the Ironman 70.3 Dubai, part of the triple crown series offering a top prizemoney of $1 million, a truly world class touch.
Nearly 2,000 participants are scheduled for a 6am start at the Ironman Village on Friday opposite the Umm Suqeim Park close to the Burj Al Arab, it was announced during an athletes presentation for the media in Dubai.
Twenty eight-year old Swiss superstar, Daniela is the 2015 Ironman World Champion (women) as well as the 2014 and 2015 Ironman 70.3 World Champion. She finished seventh in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
On the other hand Germany's Frodeno, aged 34 has an even more impressive portfolio to present enthusiasts in the UAE. He won gold in the men's triathlon at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and stood on top in the Ironman World Championship (140.6) and the Ironman 70.3 World Championship last season.
One of the UAE's top team entries among the many full time athletes and amateurs are runner Khaleifa Mohamed Alnuaimi and pro cyclist Mohammed Al Mansouri who will form a team along with world class triathlonist Sara Gross, on Friday.
Daniela and Terenzo Bozzone both won the first leg of the Triple Crown race here last year and have returned to renew the campaign to win the million-dollar bonus for winning all three races in the series. While Bozzone fell out of the running with cramps at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Austria, Daniela made good with her wins there and Ironman 70.3 Bahrain in December last, official Baharain Endurance 13 news bulletin stated on Wednesday.
Daniela said: "I express my gratitude to Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad for supporting the sport and I have been back in training for three weeks. Things have gone well, but I have no expectations as the preparation was full with other commitments. Dubai is such a motivation for me to be back again and staying fully fit right through the year inspires me to bigger goals and also the people who follow and practise the discipline."
Frodeno said: "It is encouraging to see a bigger presence of local runners in Dubai this year from the entry list. The event is well anchored locally and it speaks volumes of the popularity of the endurance-based sport."
Also in the fray as a special invitee is 84-year old American Lew Holander. The 58-time Ironman finisher will be on the start line and holds the Guinness World Record for the sport's oldest competitor - which he set when 82.
Hollander said: "From the originals days when the sport began, I have been a closer follower and I here I am because of my age, more than anything else. My friendly advice to people about helath is - once you cross 35 or say 40, it's time to slow things down and this will affect ones out outlook but it is up to each individual to get up early, and do some kind of physical activity. I come from where it snows and once past the 40-year old stage I found it like everyone else most difficult to get up and go for a jog. But with the extra bit of determination, I have managed to do this daily. Ironman has kept me going and young always, always eager to achieve better results."
The other notable entries for the weekend event are Caroline Steffen, Baharin team debutant David Plese, and Eric Watson. Team captain Shaikh Nasser in the age group category rounds will be an inspiring presence for the visiting contingent.
moni@khaleejtimes.com