An extreme triumph of determination
KNYSNA - Determination and grit were the order of the day once more at this year's Knysna Extreme Triathlon, with two new winners of Africa's toughest triathlon crowned on Saturday 18 November.
This year was the sixth time that the Knysna Extreme Triathlon took Knysna and surrounds by storm, while the Extreme 0.5 - the shorter, but still very tough, version of the race - was held for the fifth time. The Extreme consists of 5km of swimming in the Knysna Estuary, 174km of cycling from Knysna to Avontuur, and 50km of running from Avontuur to the Diepwalle Forest Hut. In the Extreme 0.5, athletes swim 2,5km in the estuary, cycle 100km from Knysna to Wilderness and back, and finally run 30km from Knysna to Diepwalle.
Both versions of the race are truly gruelling, and require nothing short of unwavering determination of the athletes taking part. Both distances get underway on Thesen Island right at the break of dawn, and the full race continues until its cut-off time of midnight on Saturday night. Conditions played along this year, albeit still on the warm side.
Neil Cable was the man who led the charge e in the full Extreme, charging his way to a 16-minute victory, crossing the finish line in 13 hours, 40 minutes and six seconds. He was followed home by JP Maritz in a time of 13:56:34, while third place belonged to Frenchman Damien Legendre with a time of f 14:48:49. Madeleen van Zuydam was the first st lady to finish, doing so in a time of 17:21:02.
The Extreme 0.5 was dominated by Mozambican athlete Valdo Lourenço who managed to finish the race in a very respectable time of 06:30:06, ahead of the first-placed team by 53 minutes. Roger Bester r was second overall, finishing with a time of 07:25:29, followed by Jacques Smith (07:32:47) in third place. Lauren Dance was the first lady over the line, crossing the finish in a time of 07:36:38.