To Xiamen now for one of the biggest endurance tests an athlete can face, the Iron man 70.3. The triathlon event is the latest of its kind in China following the success of the Hefei edition last month and as Mike Fox tell us its taking all the right steps to continue to grow as a sport in the country.
Ironman 70.3 - Xiamen: Scenic route provides beautiful back-drop for triathlon
In early November the Xiamen climate was still fairly hot and the athletes were gearing up for a battle against each other. Having started by the coast of the city the first test was a 1.9 kilometer swim.
Most of the competitors would be clumped together but one, Josh Amberger would break away to take the lead. The Australian didn't let up in the next 90 kilometers on the bike and the subsequent 21.1 kilometer run to hold the advantage all the way finish line and seal the victory.
The women's group would compete in the same distance of 113 kilometers. All of the female athletes were equipped to adjust to the competition which requires huge amounts of toughness and perseverance. Jeanni Seymour of the US would run out winner to claim the women's title on this occasion.
Triathlon to Seymour hasn't just provided her with competitive victories but also dictated her biggest relationships since she her partner while on the competition circuit. The American fell to the ground after finishing the race which was made extra special with her boyfriend by her side.
The triathlon event in Xiamen attracted thousands of athletes from 16 countries. They were given the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Gulangyu Island, while testing their athletic ability. Former badminton player Ye Zhaoying was one of the participants. The 42-year-old Chinese, who won bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, went through the whole process of the Ironman on home soil.
"I wanted to give it a try because I had been running marathon before the event. I love challenging myself, so I participated the triathlon event. It was only a start for me to experience the sport. I still need to learn from the experiences of Chinese and foreign athletes," said Ye Zhaoying, Olympic bronze medalist - badminton.
More recently the Xiamen local government has been encouraging the idea of the area being used to host sports events such as the international marathon which was held in the city last year. Hosting this year's ironman 70.3 is a bid to promote triathlons in China at a time when the country's sports industry is experiencing a boom.
"Honestly speaking, I'm very excited, even though I have been arranging sports events and sports industry conferences through these years. I almost cried at seeing the athletes at the finish line. I saw them realizing the dream of humans. Swimming, cycling and running, all these events made the athletes try hard to touch the limits of humans. They could even feel their soul. I'm honoured to stand together with them at this moment. As for the Wanda Group, we are proud to see they connect the sport with their lives," said David Yang, CEO of Wanda Sports China.
