NICE GUYS FINISH …FIRST

IN A WORLD that is making less and less sense every day, one which seems to be dominated by the concept of “do whatever it takes to get ahead,” it is refreshing to see the level of professionalism and respect on display at the top of the triathlon ranks these days. The post-race press conference at the Ironman World Championship served as an encouraging reality check proving that you don’t have to be a jerk or cheat to get ahead. It started with a question posed to Patrick Lange, the newly-crowned Kona champion. Last year, when he came across the line and it was announced that he had just broken Mark Allen’s 27-year-old run course record, Lange apologized to the six-time Kona champ. This year, on breaking Craig Alexander’s 2012 course record, Lange apologized again.

“It was the way I was brought up,” Lange said at the presser, when asked why he felt the need to apologize for his physical exploits. “I would hope that someone would do that to me if they did the same. It is just a sign or respect.”

During an interview with Lange’s coach, Faris Al-sultan, I couldn’t help myself at one point. “We have to talk about your PR skills,” I said to the 2005 Kona champion, who refused to take credit for Lange’s success, despite skillfully guiding Lange to the top of the Ironman world in just a few years. “You need to be telling everyone he’s only doing this because of you,” I joked.

Al-sultan would have none of it, and his protégé is equally as respectful of those he competes against. As are the men he shared