Munich. In 2014, Alessandro Zanardi (ITA) discovered his
passion for triathlon, and now he is preparing to tackle more of the
challenges in 2017. On 2nd July, the BMW brand ambassador
and BMW works driver will compete in the long distance triathlon
Austria-Kärnten in Klagenfurt, and in October, he plans his third
entry in the legendary event in Hawaii (USA). Zanardi successfully
completed the Kona triathlon in Big Island in 2014 and 2015, on both
occasions reaching the finish in a time under ten hours.
In 2016, Zanardi did not take part in triathlon events as he fully
focused on his para-cycling competitions in Rio de Janeiro with
success: he added two more gold medals and one silver medal to his
collection, becoming a four-times Paralympic champion. Now he will
take on the challenge of triathlon again – and he will do so not only
in a single event, but on a regular basis.
The first competition on his schedule is the triathlon in Austrian
Klagenfurt on 2nd July where the same distances awaits him
as in Hawaii: 3.86 kilometres of swimming, a cycling section of 180.2
kilometres and a final running part of a full marathon distance of
42.195 kilometres. The 50-year old Italian will again use his handbike
for the cycling section and complete the running section with an
olympic wheel chair. It will be the first time for Zanardi competing
in this event.
“I am truly looking forward to competing in Klagenfurt, which is one
of the most popular events of the scene, and to extend my experience
in long distance triathlons,” said Zanardi. “Actually, it is an
exciting new start for me as I decided to change my preparations and
to properly develop as a long distance athlete. This is a completely
different approach to preparing for my para-cycling competitions. It
is a great new project for me. Not only the training is different, but
also the preparation of my vehicles, my handbike and my olympic wheel
chair. So everything is new, and I still feel like a kid in a toy store!”
“When I did my first long distance triathlon back in 2014, I
immediately felt that it was something special,” Zanardi continued.
“The great passion and excitement I felt back then in Hawaii made it
to one of the best things I did in my life. I am really looking
forward to getting into this special discipline in more depth and
can’t wait to start the swimming leg in Klagenfurt – with the clear
aim of improving and developing my long distance performance.”
If all goes according to plan, Zanardi will then compete again in the
famous triathlon World Championship in Hawaii on 14th October.