Triathlon’s most inspirational moments

By Jeff Matlow

Oct. 13, 2006 - Next week, on Oct. 21, nearly 2000 of the world's top long-course triathletes will hit Kailua Bay in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, at 7 a.m. to begin the Ford Ironman World Championship. Triathlete will be there to bring you race-week - and race-day - reporting on the new triathletemag.com. To kick off our Kona coverage, then, is our take on some of the greatest performances to date in our sport. No doubt we'll be have to revise this list after Oct. 21.

In a sport that is practically defined by extraordinary acts of passion, triathlon is a Petri dish for inspirational moments. Though we all have our own personal drivers, there are a few specific events in our tri-history that have had such enormous impact, the emotions stretch far beyond the mere participants. We've assembled a list of what we believe are some of triathlon's most inspirational, unforgettable moments.

Julie Moss: The Crawl

Ironman World Championship (1982)

We watched in awe as Julie struggled to balance on her own two legs, wobbling like a teetering castle of cards. Our jaws dropped in horror as she collapsed a few feet from the finish. Though passed by Kathleen McCartney for first place, it didn't seem to matter as Julie desperately crawled to the finish. Her epic struggle quickly became one of the most inspirational moments in sports history. On that day, at that moment, from that Ironwill, Julie inspired the world and proved to us all that finishing is winning, regardless of whether anybody is ahead of you.

Dave Scott and Mark Allen: The Ironwar

Ironman World Championships (1989)

By 1989 Dave Scott was a six-time Ironman champion and Mark Allen, defeated in his previous attempts, a feared contender. This time, though, all bets were off. From the start, Mark hung on to Dave with mind-numbing intensity. For eight hours they raced side by side, barely uttering a word. Finally, with only two miles left, Mark pulled ahead and dramatically won his first of what would be six Ironman championships. This infamous Ironwar elevated triathlon to a new level, where Julie Moss-like survival was replaced with fierce competition; where triathlon matured from a perilous feat to a respected, inspirational competitive event.

Carlos Moleda and David Bailey: The IronWheel War

Ironman World Championships (2000)

Like 1989's Ironwar, the 2000 race was about two highly competitive athletes pushing each other to their limits. The major difference was clear: David and Carlos had no use of their legs. David was a former Motocross champion and Carlos a Navy Seal wounded in the line of duty. Both were confined to wheelchairs. For two years, Carlos had destroyed David in Hawaii, but 2000 would be different. The battle was fierce as they continually struggled for the lead, seemingly pushing each other beyond physical limitations. Ultimately, Bailey emerged victorious. In the process, both men proved the powerful competitive bond that unites all Ironman champions, regardless of their physical obstacles.

Karen Smyers

Olympic Trials (2000)

Having come back from a severed hamstring, six broken ribs, a lung contusion, separated shoulder and broken collarbone, Karen is arguably the most resilient athlete in triathlon. In 1999, she took inspiration to a new level when she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Unwilling to give in, Karen battled her disease on the racecourse with incredible efforts at the Ironman World Championships (2nd place) and the US Olympic Trials (7th place). Despite not qualifying for the Olympics, she refused to let her disease destroy her ambitions and, in so doing, became a symbol of resilience for all athletes.

Sian Welch and Wendy Ingraham: The Crawl Of The Century

Ironman World Championships (1997)

It seemed like Julie Moss revisited --and doubled. Sian Welsh was in 3rd place as she came down Ali'i Drive when suddenly her legs gave out and she collapsed to the ground. Soon thereafter, Wendy Ingraham approached and, in a similar state, horrifyingly collapsed next to Sian. Unable to stand, they desperately crawled and clawed to the finish, a tenacious battle of the spirit. The Crawl Of The Century left Wendy in 4th and Sian in 5th place and the world, once again, on the edge of its seat, mouth and heart astounded in suspense-filled awe.

Jim McLaren

Challenged Athletes Foundation

Jim McLaren was a talented athlete. After his first near death accident left him a leg amputee, he altered the perception of amputees with his athleticism, including a 10:42 Ironman Hawaii finish. Then a second accident left him a quadriplegic. Not one to give up, Jim founded the Choose Living Foundation and became the inspiration behind the Challenged Athletes Foundation, an organization dedicated to enabling physically challenged athletes to fulfill their athletic potential. In the realm of heart-wrenching tenacity, Jim McLaren is the epicenter of inspiration.

Paula Newby Fraser

Ironman World Championships (1995)

With an unprecedented 24 Ironman victories, eight of them in Hawaii, nobody even comes close to the Queen of Kona's success. She is larger than life in the sport. Having won nearly all the Ironman championships from 1986 to 1994, Paula was a clear favorite in 1995. Though stalked by Karen Smyers the entire day, Paula burst onto Ali'i Drive with the lead. Suddenly, only 600 meters from the finish, she slowed down and, astoundingly, came to a stop. Paula Newby-Fraser had run out of gas. When Karen passed by to claim victory, it was as if the gods had been toppled. In a twist of irony, Paula, for once, inspired us all through her mortality.

Dick and Rick Hoyt

Ironman World Championships (1989)

In the world of ultimate fathers, Dick Hoyt is king. After his son Rick was born with cerebral palsy, Dick began to commit his life to his son's well-being. Upon realizing Rick's enjoyment with exercise, Dick and Rick began racing marathons and triathlons. At the 1989 Ironman Championships, the Hoyts took center stage and set the world on fire. By pulling Rick from a boat tied to his back, then pushing him on the bike and run, Dick bullied his way through the Kona coast. As they began sprinting down the last stretch of Ali'i Drive, the emotions were overwhelming. And as they crossed the finish line, Dick and Rick proved, once again, that anything is possible.

Simon Whitfield

Sydney Olympics (2000)

As the first event on the first day of the Sydney Games, triathlon had quite an auspicious Olympic debut. Our hearts skipped a collective beat when Simon and 14 others went down in a massive bike pile-up. When Simon finished the bike in 25th place, we barely noticed -- he wasn't a favorite for the gold anyway. Yet when he worked up to the leaders on the run, we raised an eyebrow. And when he surged ahead at the final sprint and crossed the line to win, we were shockingly inspired. Regardless of our nationality, we screamed in joy for our new Canadian hero.

The first Ironman race you witness

Though you can view abridged Ironman episodes until your TV dies, nothing compares with the true feeling of the Ironman finish line. The joyful screaming of the 13- and 14-hour finishers bubbles your adrenaline, while the inspirational resilience of the 15- and 16-hour racers leaves you dramatically moved. With your throat hoarse, you watch with nervous anticipation as the clock ticks towards 17 hours. And as the last of the finishers cross under the great Ironman banner, you can't avoid that lump in your throat. You never forget your first, regardless of which side of the barricades you are on.