World snooker champion 'really serious' about pursuing new sport in shock admission
Belgium's Luca Brecel has confirmed he is "really serious" about his ambition to compete in an Ironman triathlon, despite scepticism from some quarters
Luca Brecel of Belgium
(Image: Getty Images )
Former world snooker champion Luca Brecel has reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing his Ironman ambitions, despite sceptics questioning his decision.
The 30-year-old, who recently reached the quarter-finals at the Crucible before being defeated by Judd Trump, has been diligently training for the triathlon challenge with the goal of competing in 2028.
Since claiming the sport's top prize two years ago, Brecel has sparked debate with his approach to snooker. His prioritisation of Ironman training has led to a decline in his world rankings.
He has even hosted his own training camps in Majorca and travelled to and from the Spanish island during last year's Northern Ireland Open.
After his loss to Trump in Sheffield, he confessed to struggling with focus during lengthy matches and expressed his dislike for extended stays in England.
Undeterred, Brecel remains determined to tackle the demanding event, which consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile cycle ride, and a 26.2-mile run.
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During last year's Northern Ireland Open, where he balanced his training schedule with matches before losing to China's Pang Junxu, he addressed his doubters and pledged to seek professional guidance for his fitness regimen.
"It is a really big ambition of mine - some people think it's a joke, but I'm really serious about it," he said.
"That's the main focus, and Majorca is a good environment to train, a lot of the pro cyclists go out there.", reports the Express.
Brecel said: "I'm going to focus on cycling and running for the next two years, and then I'll pick up swimming.
"A Belgian, Frederik van Lierde, won the Ironman World Championship in 2013, so I might ask him to coach me a little bit. That's on the cards."
He has also dismissed claims he is using his sport to justify his repeated trips to Majorca claiming it isn't a sunshine vacation.
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"For me being in Majorca is not really about the sunshine, it's about the temperature and it's a good environment to train," he said.
"It's not about lying on the beach, I haven't seen the beach yet, it's all about training."
The former world number two has improved since his results dropped earlier this season.
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