The quadriplegic athlete Marc Herremans (BEL), who is starting in the category ‘handcycle devision’ as a PRO, is going to participate at the IRONMAN Austria this year for the second time. Back in 2000 at his first race in Austria he started in the category M-PRO. This year he wants to break the world record in his class.
The participation at an IRONMAN is already an extraordinary accomplishment for a ‚normal’ athlete. But when a disability comes into play, there is something almost supernatural about it.
Marc Herremans, a Belgian athlete, is quadriplegic since 2002 and still starting as a PRO, this time in the handicapped-category. During his time as PRO-athlete, his biggest success was a 6th rank at the IRONMAN World Championship in Hawaii in the year 2001. But there were no thoughts about quitting after his fatal bike accident. „After the accident I was just happy that I was still alive. My main focus has always been to win the IRONMAN Hawaii once. So I had a reason to get started with the training again early.”, says Herremans. It’s the second time he’s starting in Klagenfurt, but it’s the first time with his disability.
The ultimate challenge is made up of 3,8 kilometres swimming, which are just mastered by the sheer strength and power of the arms, 180 kilometres cycling on a handcycle and 42,2, kilometers in a specialized racing wheelchair. This year Herremans wants to break the world record of 10:35 in his category. He wants to finish the race between 10:00 and 10:30 hours.
Along with him, there is also an Austrian quadriplegic athlete. Gerhard Hochmayr is competing in the same category as Herremans.
The triathlon for quadriplegic athletes is different from the usual competition in two things: After mastering the 3,8 km long swim course, the following 180 have to be tackled with a so called ‚handcycle’, instead of a normal racing bike. During the final marathon distance the athletes are absolving the last part of the course in a specialized racing wheelchair. The whole of the distance is thus mastered exclusively with the power of the athletes’ arms.
Marc Herremans is giving motivational lectures and wants to pass his motto on to athletes who had an accident and need to re-orientate themselves: „Whatever happens in your life, keep your faith and never give up!”
Find more information about the race on IronmanAustria.com.
Marc Herremans Photo: TRIANGLE
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