Thousands compete in Louisville's Ironman, including blind man
Thousands of athletes arrived at the Waterfront Sunday morning for the chance to become an Ironman. The city has hosted the competition since 2007.Athletes from across the world swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and after completing a marathon, end up at the finish line at Fourth Street Live.Most athletes began arriving at 5 a.m. Sunday, in anticipation of the 7:30 race time. The first in line was teacher and new father Neal Bryant. He's in town from Marion, Kentucky, and said he was participating to prove something to himself."You just wonder how far you can go, how far you take it, what is possible. I'm here because I want to try to achieve what is possible," Bryant said.Also in the crowd were Terry Gates and his son, Chris. The pair made the trip from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Terry said their journey together began several years ago."We challenged each other. I challenged him to have 90 days of sobriety. He challenged me to get in shape and do a triathlon with him," Terry, 61, explained.Now, the pair is set to complete their second Ironman together."It's incredible. It's been such a ride, it's changed my life," Chris, 29, said.Another pair on the journey was Chris Lancaster and Charlie St. Cyr-Paul. Chris was born with a genetic disease that has slowly taken his eyesight. He no longer has peripheral vision, night vision and his central vision is failing. Legally, he is blind."I even started training and tried swimming in a pool but realized real quick with my vision it wasn't something I was going to be able to do and so I kinda gave up on it," he said of his dream of becoming an Ironman.But then, he met Charlie, who was his guide at a Disney Marathon. Charlie refused to let Chris give up. For the past 21 months, the two have trained together."I saw what an amazing athlete he was I mentioned Ironman and he got a glimmer in his eye. I knew we were going to make it happen," Charlie said.The pair use an elastic band to swim together, ride a tandem bike, and run side by side their wrists tied with a shoelace."If you really want it there's a way to get it. You just have to find that way and be persistent," Chris Lancaster said.Echoing the sentiment, Chris Gates said, "You do what you can with what you have."Sunday's Ironman was made possible thanks to thousands of volunteers.To see a list of road closures click here.
Thousands of athletes arrived at the Waterfront Sunday morning for the chance to become an Ironman. The city has hosted the competition since 2007.
Athletes from across the world swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and after completing a marathon, end up at the finish line at Fourth Street Live.
Most athletes began arriving at 5 a.m. Sunday, in anticipation of the 7:30 race time. The first in line was teacher and new father Neal Bryant. He's in town from Marion, Kentucky, and said he was participating to prove something to himself.
"You just wonder how far you can go, how far you take it, what is possible. I'm here because I want to try to achieve what is possible," Bryant said.
Also in the crowd were Terry Gates and his son, Chris. The pair made the trip from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Terry said their journey together began several years ago.
"We challenged each other. I challenged him to have 90 days of sobriety. He challenged me to get in shape and do a triathlon with him," Terry, 61, explained.
Now, the pair is set to complete their second Ironman together.
"It's incredible. It's been such a ride, it's changed my life," Chris, 29, said.
Another pair on the journey was Chris Lancaster and Charlie St. Cyr-Paul. Chris was born with a genetic disease that has slowly taken his eyesight. He no longer has peripheral vision, night vision and his central vision is failing. Legally, he is blind.
"I even started training and tried swimming in a pool but realized real quick with my vision it wasn't something I was going to be able to do and so I kinda gave up on it," he said of his dream of becoming an Ironman.
But then, he met Charlie, who was his guide at a Disney Marathon. Charlie refused to let Chris give up. For the past 21 months, the two have trained together.
"I saw what an amazing athlete he was I mentioned Ironman and he got a glimmer in his eye. I knew we were going to make it happen," Charlie said.
The pair use an elastic band to swim together, ride a tandem bike, and run side by side their wrists tied with a shoelace.
"If you really want it there's a way to get it. You just have to find that way and be persistent," Chris Lancaster said.
Echoing the sentiment, Chris Gates said, "You do what you can with what you have."
Sunday's Ironman was made possible thanks to thousands of volunteers.
To see a list of road closures click here.