News

ITU World Olympic Distance Triathlon Champs - Auckland, NZ

14 October 2012

Article by Cape Auto Centre sponsored multisport athlete, Cornelis Engelbrecht:

On October 14, 2012, I was off to one of the biggest races to date - the Grand Final World Championship in Auckland, New Zealand! Getting there involved a 32 hour one stop flight.
We arrived a week before the event to acclimatise and to get rid of jet lag. We had a nice leg losener on Wednesday - the Worlds Aquathlon 1km swim, followed by a 5km run. The conditions were great for racing. I had a wet start with the waves of age groups. 103 guys in the age group 30-39 - it was going to be a washing machine! Nerves were running high and I felt it - shortness of breath and goggles kicked off twice, I finished the 1km swim in 16min. On with the shoes for a relaxed 5km run which I did in 19min. I came 34th in a time of 37min.
NOW I am ready for the big day! 22 October and the Olympic World Championships!! Distance of 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run. The weather was not looking to good with rain, wind and cold forecasted. Luckily, the rain stayed away. Again, wet start and the age group wave with 108 in the 30-34 group. You know it is going to be a wrestling match when you have sea conditions of 14oC and choppy waters. I lost lots of time with a 27min swim - far off the 22min that I planned. Off to the bike and with a nice strong breeze on a two laps hilly road, I pushed nice and hard for a 1:07 on a borrowed bike from my team mate Douw in CCAMC. Off the bike and into the running shoes - and were my legs jelly after that bike ride? I was hoping for a sub 38min on the two laps flat course, but only managed a 41min. A well deserved 60th place in my age group 30-34 and a time of 2:22 over all - not my best time, but the experience of a lifetime!!
A Big thanks to my sponsors (me, myself and I ?), 32GI, Cape Auto Centre, Glider Eyewear, friends and family giving me the extra push I needed. Final thanks go to God giving me the talent to enjoy the sport.