Latest news with #Olympic-distance
Daily Tribune
04-06-2025
- General
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain Victorious 13 Shine Worldwide
TDT | Manama Overcoming Adversity Bahrain Victorious 13 capped off the first weekend of June with a clean sweep of medals across Europe and North America. From Olympic-distance to long-course battles, the team demonstrated its trademark resilience—none more so than in Italy, where Olympic champion Cassandre Beaugrand sealed a comeback for the ages. Beaugrand's Return Beaugrand's win in the World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) race in Alghero was as much about resolve as speed. After a crash in Yokohama left her bruised and bed-bound with illness, the French star had barely trained in the two weeks prior. 'I didn't even know if I was racing,' she admitted. But what followed was clinical. Trailing early in the swim, Beaugrand bridged the gap on the bike alongside Maya Kingma, breaking away from the field with a blistering effort. Her signature footspeed then carried her past the tape, 39 seconds ahead of Bianca Seregni. Olivia Mathias rounded out the podium with her first WTCS medal. The result marks Beaugrand's first win of the 2025 series and reignites her campaign for the overall title. Unified Effort Across Continents In the men's WTCS race, Leo Bergere added bronze with a tactically sharp performance, leading a nine-athlete breakaway before closing strong on the run. Newcomer Vasco Vilaca, however, found himself boxed in after a slower swim start, finishing outside the top 30. While the result wasn't ideal, Vilaca remains a key part of the team's 2025 long-term strategy. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Bahrain Victorious 13 athletes were equally relentless. Taylor Knibb delivered another world-class effort at the T100 Triathlon San Francisco, finishing second after a dominant bike segment. On the men's side, Jelle Geens claimed silver behind Rico Bogen, while Marten Van Riel animated the race early and came home sixth. In France, India Lee put on a masterclass at Ironman 70.3 Tours Métropole, cruising to victory by five minutes and punching her ticket to the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Marbella. In Poland, Kacper Stepniak overcame a bike crash to sprint to silver at the Sierakow Triathlon, narrowly missing gold by just 14 seconds. The team's Hamburg campaign delivered another headline performance, with Kat Matthews claiming silver in the Ironman European Championship. Matthews led much of the day before being passed in the final stretch by Germany's Laura Philipp, but her time still eclipsed her record-setting mark from Texas earlier this year—among the fastest Ironman finishes on record. Legacy in Motion Founded under the vision of His Highness Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Bahrain Victorious 13 has become a model of how elite sport can be both global and personal. With six Olympic and Paralympic medals and 15 world titles across the roster, the group thrives on shared ambition, unified by a culture that celebrates resilience as much as results. That ethos was on full display this weekend. From Beaugrand's emotional success to Matthews' relentless pace, each athlete carried not just the team colors but a sense of purpose that transcends the finish line. Looking Ahead With WTCS Paris, Ironman 70.3 Marbella, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games on the horizon, Bahrain Victorious 13's momentum couldn't be better timed. This weekend was a signal as much as it was a team's pursuit of excellence continues—not just across finish lines, but through every challenge sport and life throw their way.
New York Post
23-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Washington doctor Dennis Smith dies during Grand Canyon rim-to-rim hike at age 74
The National Park Service recently identified a hiker who died in the Grand Canyon last week as a beloved 74-year-old Washington state doctor. Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center staff received a report on May 15 of an unresponsive hiker on the North Kaibab Trail, about half a mile below the North Kaibab Trailhead. Dr. Dennis Smith, of Olympia, Washington, was attempting a rim-to-rim hike from the South Rim to the North Rim when authorities and friends said he collapsed on the trail. Though there is limited cell phone service in the canyon, the incident happened close enough to the top that they were able to call for a park service helicopter. Medics restarted his heart, but it later stopped again, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. His cause of death is under investigation by the Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office, according to the park service. Fellow doctor, Tom Helpenstell, who worked with Smith for more than 30 years, told Fox News Digital the pair ran across the canyon when it was hotter, and he believes it was a 'freak' accident. 'I think it was 100 degrees or close to it, but he's really good about hydrating,' Helpenstell said. 'He's always drinking fluids. … He's way too smart to be pushing beyond his limits. I think this was just a freak thing.' 6 Washington doctor Dennis Smith died while hiking the Grand Canyon on May 15, 2025. Tom Helpenstell via Fox News After doing a short stint in the Navy, Smith, a former family practice doctor, became an orthopedic surgeon. He then started his own practice, Olympia Orthopaedic Associates, where he met Helpenstell in 1994. 'We worked together in the same office and assisted each other every Tuesday in surgeries for 30 years,' Helpenstell said. 'He and I have run across the Grand Canyon three times, doing Ultra Trail-type running. Probably two years ago, he decided not to do running [anymore], so he was hiking with a group out of Tucson, Arizona, where he spends the winters.' Before deciding not to keep running, the pair ran up Mount Whitney together, completed full Iron Man competitions and Olympic-distance triathlons together, and climbed Mount Rainier. 'He's super active, super fit,' Helpenstell said. 'This was not even a run, this was a hike. I don't want to downplay it. Grand Canyon's a big day, for sure, but this was completely out of the blue.' 6 Dr. Dennis Smith, of Olympia, Washington, was attempting a rim-to-rim hike from the South Rim to the North Rim when authorities and friends said he collapsed on the trail. Tom Helpenstell via Fox News 6 An aerial view of the Grand Canyon from a helicopter. Amineah – In addition to Smith's athletic feats, Helpenstell said he was highly respected in his community for his work in general orthopedics, where he did trauma, hip and knee replacements. 'He would jump in and take care of anyone at any time. Really, really great,' Helpenstell said. 'Within the surgeon community, we're the carpenters. … Even when he retired from his regular work [in 2021], he stayed on and took call for us and stayed up at night doing cases. He kept his hand in it, until just about a year and a half or two ago. He was an amazing man.' 'He read like crazy,' Helpenstell said. 'He was like an encyclopedia. We would always joke, we don't need Google, we have Dennis. He was really into health and nutrition, and what diets are the right ones to take, and what supplements. I mean, the guy was crazy about staying healthy. He had switched to playing pickleball because he thought it would make his brain learn new things, which would keep him from getting Alzheimer's or anything like that. He was more focused than anyone I know about staying healthy and living long, which makes this hard.' 6 Tourists watch the sunset from an observation platform overlooking the Grand Canyon in Tusayan, Arizona, on May 16, 2025. REUTERS 6 Smith ran up Mount Whitney, completed full Iron Man competitions and Olympic-distance triathlons, and climbed Mount Rainier. Tom Helpenstell via Fox News Smith leaves behind his wife, Evelyn, who would have celebrated their 50th anniversary on Sunday, and four children. He also leaves behind numerous grandchildren who he enjoyed hiking and running with. The NPS urged all visitors to Grand Canyon National Park, particularly those planning to hike or backpack in the inner canyon, to prepare for extreme heat. Park rangers strongly advise against hiking in the inner canyon during the hottest part of the day, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. 6 Smith started his own practice, Olympia Orthopaedic Associates in 1994. Olympia Orthopaedic Associates / Facebook Hikers and backpackers attempting rigorous distances, such as rim to rim, through the inner canyon, are encouraged to be self-reliant to prevent emergency situations for themselves and responders. 'Be aware that efforts to assist hikers may be delayed due to limited staff, the number of rescue calls, and employee safety requirements,' according to the park service.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Washington doctor dies during Grand Canyon rim-to-rim hike at age 74
The National Park Service recently identified a hiker who died in the Grand Canyon last week as a beloved 74-year-old Washington state doctor. Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center staff received a report on May 15 of an unresponsive hiker on the North Kaibab Trail, about half a mile below the North Kaibab Trailhead. Dr. Dennis Smith, of Olympia, Washington, was attempting a rim-to-rim hike from the South Rim to the North Rim when authorities and friends said he collapsed on the trail. Hiker, 33, Dies After Hiking Arizona Mountains In Extreme Heat, 4 Others Rescued Though there is limited cell phone service in the canyon, the incident happened close enough to the top that they were able to call for a park service helicopter. Medics restarted his heart, but it later stopped again, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. His cause of death is under investigation by the Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office, according to the park service. Read On The Fox News App American Doctor, Cancer Survivor Runs 7 Marathons On 7 Continents In 7 Days Fellow doctor, Tom Helpenstell, who worked with Smith for more than 30 years, told Fox News Digital the pair ran across the canyon when it was hotter, and he believes it was a "freak" accident. "I think it was 100 degrees or close to it, but he's really good about hydrating," Helpenstell said. "He's always drinking fluids. … He's way too smart to be pushing beyond his limits. I think this was just a freak thing." After doing a short stint in the Navy, Smith, a former family practice doctor, became an orthopedic surgeon. He then started his own practice, Olympia Orthopaedic Associates, where he met Helpenstell in 1994. "We worked together in the same office and assisted each other every Tuesday in surgeries for 30 years," Helpenstell said. "He and I have run across the Grand Canyon three times, doing Ultra Trail-type running. Probably two years ago, he decided not to do running [anymore], so he was hiking with a group out of Tucson, Arizona, where he spends the winters." 23-Year-old Hiker Found After Surviving For 2 Weeks In Australian Mountain Range Before deciding not to keep running, the pair ran up Mount Whitney together, completed full Iron Man competitions and Olympic-distance triathlons together, and climbed Mount Rainier. "He's super active, super fit," Helpenstell said. "This was not even a run, this was a hike. I don't want to downplay it. Grand Canyon's a big day, for sure, but this was completely out of the blue." In addition to Smith's athletic feats, Helpenstell said he was highly respected in his community for his work in general orthopedics, where he did trauma, hip and knee replacements. "He would jump in and take care of anyone at any time. Really, really great," Helpenstell said. "Within the surgeon community, we're the carpenters. … Even when he retired from his regular work [in 2021], he stayed on and took call for us and stayed up at night doing cases. He kept his hand in it, until just about a year and a half or two ago. He was an amazing man." "He read like crazy," Helpenstell said. "He was like an encyclopedia. We would always joke, we don't need Google, we have Dennis. He was really into health and nutrition, and what diets are the right ones to take, and what supplements. I mean, the guy was crazy about staying healthy. He had switched to playing pickleball because he thought it would make his brain learn new things, which would keep him from getting Alzheimer's or anything like that. He was more focused than anyone I know about staying healthy and living long, which makes this hard." Smith leaves behind his wife, Evelyn, who would have celebrated their 50th anniversary on Sunday, and four children. He also leaves behind numerous grandchildren who he enjoyed hiking and running with. Doctor And Cancer Survivor Gears Up To Run 7 Marathons On 7 Continents In 7 Days The NPS urged all visitors to Grand Canyon National Park, particularly those planning to hike or backpack in the inner canyon, to prepare for extreme rangers strongly advise against hiking in the inner canyon during the hottest part of the day, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Hikers and backpackers attempting rigorous distances, such as rim to rim, through the inner canyon, are encouraged to be self-reliant to prevent emergency situations for themselves and responders. "Be aware that efforts to assist hikers may be delayed due to limited staff, the number of rescue calls, and employee safety requirements," according to the park article source: Washington doctor dies during Grand Canyon rim-to-rim hike at age 74
The Citizen
05-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Ebotse resident swims, cycles and runs to victory at Ironman SA
Upon retirement, most people opt for a laid-back lifestyle to relax after years of hard work. Not Ebotse Golf and Country Estate resident Alan Charles Robertson. Instead, the 65-year-old former biathlete, modern pentathlete and longtime Denel employee decided to speed up, work hard and push his body to the limits. Victory on debut Robertson recently clinched first place in the men's 65-69 category at the Isuzu Ironman Nelson Mandela Bay Championships in March. He completed the 3.8km swim in 01:35:49, before cycling the 180km distance in 07:56:35. He then completed the marathon in 05:23:12, clocking a combined 15:21:22 for victory. 'I didn't go and break myself because 15 hours is a long time. I knew I was going to go for 15 hours. I went out to finish and just went out with constant speed in each of the events,' he said. It was his first full triathlon and it was made special by the fact that he did it with his son-in-law, Nathan Pearson beside him, while their family was on the route supporting them. 'I've been fortunate that at 65 years, I don't take one tablet. That's quite good when a lot of your friends have passed away. I can still do the Ironman and I'm blessed to have Nathan as my partner. That's what counts – doing it with your whole family.' Early career Robertson took up endurance sports early in his life. He's a former national U17 and U19 biathlon record holder, setting the milestones in 1977 and 1979. He took up triathlon in 1980 and won the national champs in 1981. He then joined the army and was introduced to modern pentathlon. He was a Springbok for over 11 years. His career highlight was second place in the American national championships in 1981. Afterwards, Robertson transitioned into karate. He opened the Goju Karate Academy and was president for 25 years. He still participated in the triathlon, doing several Olympic-distance triathlons with his children, Warren and Claire. Family affair After Claire married Pearson, it wasn't long before Pearson and Robertson developed an unbreakable bond that culminated in the duo frequenting the Ironman 70.3 competitions around the country for the past four years. 'We trained together with his son, Warren, for our first triathlon in 2021. Alan had just retired and because I own my own business, it was a natural transition for us,' Pearson said. While he was a strong cyclist, learning to swim took serious work but his father-in-law was right beside him to give him lessons. 'I was only strong in cycling. Because Alan had a background in swimming, he coached us. He knew how to train. That knowledge was like a parenting relationship you can't pay for.' Pearson did his first full Ironman last year and he was on hand to see Robertson cross the line in Gqeberha. They swam together and came out of the water in tow but afterwards, it was every man for himself. 'This has become our bread and butter. I was excited for Alan when he came first because I knew he wanted the podium,' Pearson said. The duo will continue to swim, cycle and run together and are looking forward to the SEESA Jozi Triathlon at CR Swart Dam in September. Also Read: Schoeman in a class of his own at Jozi Triathlon Also Read: Van der Merwe and Grobler win TSA sprint titles At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Al Etihad
07-04-2025
- Sport
- Al Etihad
Inaugural Challenge Sir Bani Yas Triathlon concludes in Abu Dhabi
7 Apr 2025 18:00 ABU DHABI (WAM)Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Al Dhafra Region, the first Challenge Sir Bani Yas Triathlon concluded in Abu Dhabi on Monday. The first-ever full-distance triathlon to take place in the Middle East and North Africa region ran from 3-7 April by the ADNEC Group in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC), Challenge Sir Bani Yas reinforces Abu Dhabi's and Al Dhafra's rising profile as premier sports tourism destinations, while also fostering greater community line with the UAE's 'Year of Community' initiative, the event brought together more than 3,100 elite and amateur athletes from 47 countries, competing across long, middle, and Olympic-distance triathlons, alongside a variety of community-focused races, which attracted 6,515 full-distance triathlon featured a 3.8 km swim, 180 km cycle, and a 42.2 km run. The middle-distance race included a 1.9 km swim, 96 km cycle, and 21.1 km run, while the Olympic-distance event consisted of a 1.5 km swim, 45 km cycle, and 10 km run. Organisers say the next edition will be held from January 29 to February 1.
