Belgian triathlete wins half ironman in USA
Belgian triathlete Claire Michel has won her first and only Ironman 70.3, also known as a half Ironman.
The number above refers to the number of miles you cover. In kilometres, it boils down to 1.9km of swimming, 90km of cycling, and a 21,1km run to top it off. Typically, this is the point at which mere mortals exclaim “Never again!”
Joking aside, the 36-year-old Brussels native is on the tail end of a long and impressive career, ready to take over as technical director of the Ligue Francophone de Triathlon, or LF3. In Indian Wells, California, the swimmer’s daughter finished the first leg of her triathlon in a strong third place, ending near the front in the cycle and destroying the competition in a 1h22 half marathon.
Michel is a three-time Olympian, has enjoyed a significant number of podium finishes and was elected best Belgian female triathlete of the year, two years in a row. It sounds like the francophone triathlon federation is in excellent hands.
Fellow Belgian Bart Aernouts, who won Ironman Cozumel at the end of November, finished just shy of a podium spot in the men’s race.
Well done to these fantastic triathletes, and especially of course to Claire Michel for this crowning achievement on a remarkable career.