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Craig Alexander |
 Craig Alexander, 38, proved that age is no barrier in the Hawaii Ironman world championship in October when he became the third person to win the title three times. He also broke the 15-year-old course record for the 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42.2km run event on the lava fields near Kona. Alexander, whose previous wins were in 2008 and 2009, was also the oldest ever champion after winning in a time of eight hours three minutes and 56 seconds - bettering the eight hours four minutes and eight seconds of Belgian Luv Van Lierde in 1996. And he did so in a race that pits the field against searing heat and energy sapping humidity and winds after fighting off cramps in the final marathon leg. A great influence on his time was his personal best for the bike leg in which he smashed his previous fastest time by 13 minutes. Such a performance by the native of Cronulla was labelled by AAP as ‘‘arguably the greatest single performance in Australian triathlon history’’ and helped to avenge his second place in 2010 when he was heavily marked and was forced to ride defensively in the bike leg. This time, Alexander threw all into an aggressive race and despite saying that he knew of the risk - that ‘‘that can end in tears too’’ - he reaped the rewards and became an Ironman great. |
