Pinoy Triathletes All Set To Conquer Ironman Langkawi
All aboard the Ironman Langkawi train! On September 27 at Langkawi, Malaysia, 119 Filipinos will attempt to conquer what was dubbed as the TOUGHEST SHOW ON EARTH.
This group is now the largest and second Philippine contingent ever to race in an Ironman distance race outside the country, the first one being the 90-member team which went to compete at the Ironman Asia Pacific Championship in Melbourne, Australia last March.
Notable athletes such as Ivan Fojas, Retzel Orquiza, Coach Julian Valencia, Coach Norman Pascual, Vince Garcia, and SBR.ph’s and 2x Ironman Langkawi finisher Carlos de Guzman attended the event.
View pictures —> Ironman Langkawi Send Off Presser (97 photos)
Ironman Langkawi, which held its last race last 2010, will make its comeback this year. Our Pinoy triathletes together with other participants, are set to embark on a truly Malaysian cultural journey through a 3.8 km Swim, 180km Bike, followed with a 42.2km Run “for dessert”. The demanding terrain will pass thru Langkawi’s traditional kampungs (villages), mangrove clusters and rainforest vistas. Ironman Langkawi is located within a cluster of tropical islands that attract visitors the world over.
The team is composed of mostly first-time Ironman Langkawi participants and a number of second and third timers. Spearheaded by Vince Garcia, a triathlete and coach of the RP Paratriathlon Team, the team just held a press conference at Skippy’s Bar and Grill located at the Bonifacio Global City, its purpose is to send out the message that the Filipino’s passion for the sport of Triathlon have truly grown in the Philippines in only half a decade.
The contingent is lucky that they have the full backing of Sunrise Events, Inc., (SEI) franchise holder of Ironman races here in the Philippines. “SEI will continue to support Filipino’s competing in Ironman races all over the world.” said Princess Galura, Project Director of SEI.
The team includes notable athletes like celebrity-triathlete Drew Arellano, UltraRunner Willy Yao who at 60+ is the most senior member of the group, youngest at 21 years old Charles Lazaro and the 2014 Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines Filipina Elite Champion, Joyette Jopson.
Ironman Langkawi is a qualifying race to the 2015 Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii with 40 available slots.
Good luck to everyone! We will track and monitor you guys here on SBR.ph!
