In wintry weather, the Middle East Iron Man Championship was launched this morning (Friday) in Tiberias, with the participation of 2,500 competitors, including 800 international competitors from 58 countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Ukraine, the USA and Israel. The most challenging competition in the world is initiated by Ministry Culture and sports, businessman and philanthropist Sylvan Adams and the Comtech Group in collaboration with the Tiberias Municipality, the Jordan Valley Regional Council and the Triathlon Association.
In the men’s PRO category, Patrick Lang from Germany finished in first place and won the title of “Middle East Iron Man Champion”, after completing the grueling competition in a personal record of 07:42:00; In second place came Daniel Backgaard from Denmark with a total time of: 07:43:40; The third place was taken by Gregory Barnaby from Italy with a total time of 02:07:47; Israel’s top triathlete Dan Alterman finished the full competition in a total time of 08:54:18, the first Israeli to do so.
In the women’s PRO category, Ruth Astell from Great Britain finished in first place and won the title of “Middle East Iron Man Champion”, after completing the competition in a time of 08:41:13; In second place came Daniela Bleimhal from Germany with a total time of: 08:50:13; In third place came Barbara Riveros from Australia with a total time of 08:55:49.
This is the first time that the full distance competition of the international Iron Man brand is being held in the Middle East and 75 places will be awarded to the 2023 World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. The “Iron Man” competition consists of three parts: swimming, cycling and running. The triathlon is held non-stop when the participants have a limited time to finish each of the sections of the competition and a total roof time to finish it, therefore it challenges the limit of human ability, physically and mentally.