British triathlete Raoul Metclafe emerged overall winner of the 2024 Ironman 70.3 Triathlon race that took place in Rubavu town, northwest of the country, on Sunday, August 4.
Metcalfe was contesting in the men’s category where he overcame challenging climbs to cross the finishing line with a time of 4:35:07.
He was among 200 athletes from 28 participating countries, including 28 from host nation Rwanda, who raced through the scenic Rubavu District, enjoying breathtaking views of Lake Kivu while being cheered on by residents and traveling fans.
They embarked on the 70.3-mile triathlon, beginning with a 1.9-kilometer swim course in Lake Kivu, followed by a 90-kilometer bike race, and finishing with a 21.1-kilometer run.
And it was the Briton who emerged winner on his very debut at Ironman 70.3 Rwanda which was happening in Rubavu for the third time in a row.
"It was tough, if you want to face the toughest race, come to Rwanda," Metcalfe told The New Times after the race.
"It was brutal, beautiful, friend, supportive and encouraging."
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Meanwhile, Berber Kramer from the Netherlands won the race in women&039;s category after crossing the finish line with a time of 5:00:56, making it a hat trick of wins in three consecutive years since Ironman 70.3’s inception in Rwanda in 2022.
It means a lot. This is the third time for me in Rwanda and I really think this race is amazing edition and I am so glad that there an Ironman event in East Africa,” Kramer said after the race.
"It was a big challenge. 1.9-kilometer swimming, 90 kilometers cycling, 21 kilometers running, in about 5 hours...that was quite a challenge, I am really tired now [laughing],” she added.
Asked how she perceives Ironman race, Kramer said, "Ironman brought me a lot of joy in life, it really helps me having a work-life balance as I have a normal job.”
Rwandan trio captained by runner Emmanuel Mutabazi emerged the first as the first team. Mutabazi’s teammates included swimmer Damascene Twibanire and cyclist Jeremie Ngendahayo.
The 2024 Ironman.70.3 Rwanda was officiated Minister of Sports, Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju, along with other senior officials including Rwanda Development Board (RDB) CEO Francis Gatare, Western Province Governor Lambert Dushimimana, and Rubavu District Mayor Prosper Mulindwa.
For Gatare, "it’s been a remarkable day in the scenic lakeside town of Rubavu District, with athletes competing in the demanding yet exhilarating third edition. Congratulations to the Rwandan athletes who proudly represented our nation in this event."
Organised locally by Global Events, Ironman 70.3 is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organised by the World Triathlon Corporation. Rubavu was approved as the race host city for the past three editions.
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Ordinarily, most Ironman events have a limited time of 16 or 17 hours to complete the race, depending on the course.
The mandatory cut off time to complete the 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim is 2 hours 20 minutes, while the mandatory bike cut off time for when an athlete must have completed their swim, transition and bike varies generally between 10 hours and 30 minutes.
Any participant who completes the triathlon within these time constraints is designated an Ironman.