PHOTOS: Ironman 70.3 Rwanda: The race that Rubavu fits in

In Ironman 70.3 Rwanda race, people from all walks of life have found in Rubavu a place where memories and souvenirs are made but also an event where champions of resilience are celebrated.The second edition of the renowned triathlon race that took place Saturday, August 5, was in full swing as Rwandan athletes put on a show and dominated the podium, hence qualifying for the 2024 Vin Fast Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Taupō, New Zealand.From navigating Lake Kivu with magical swimming skills and making rounds of laps across the town on a bike to fascinating scenes of celebrations before cheering fans at the finish line, every moment witnessed at the race was worth enjoying.The beach is also exciting to walk on for families who traveled to support their favorite athletes while customer care from business people doing exhibitions at the venue can give you more than one reason to buy more than what you expected to. From crafts of Rwandan attire to coffee, vendors are always at your service.People are also welcoming on the streets and it doesn’t matter who is competing, they will cheer on you until you cross the finish line.And if you’re a bit stuck, play some golf on the sidelines, people at the mini golf course will be happy to get you entertained and engaged until you fall in love with the sport.From all these, you can tell why Rubavu remains among Rwanda’s top tourism destinations.A total of 290 athletes from 29 countries, including 58 Rwandans and 232 foreign athletes, embarked on a 70.3-mile triathlon, beginning with a 1.9-kilometer swim course in Lake Kivu before embarking on a 90-kilometer bike race and finishing with a 21.1-kilometer run.ALSO READ: Ironman 70.3 triathlon race 2023 underway in RubavuAthletes raced through the scenic Rubavu District, enjoying breathtaking views of Lake Kivu while being cheered on by residents and traveling fans.Rwanda’s Heritier Ishimwe won the men’s race on a solo after clocking 4:48:56, while Berber Kramer from Netherlands crossed the finish line first in the women’s race with a time of 4:55:21. “I am so excited to beat all these athletes from different parts of the world and come out on top. I couldn’t perform well last year but I had to put in hard work so I could win this year’s edition and it paid off,” Ishimwe said.Meanwhile, Jean de Dieu Bigirimana from Team Bigirimana was the first to cross the finish line in the relay teams’ category with a race time of 4:15:32.The swimmer teamed up with rider Moise Mugisha and long-distance runner Emmanuel Mutabazi during the race, hoping to impress people in Rubavu,After the race, Bigirimana said, “There was no secret in achieving this other than training hard. That’s all we did.” His teammate Mugisha said they won because they formed a winning team.“When you want to win, you choose the best in your team. I think we join hands because we are the best in our respective sports disciplines. Together we can achieve a lot in the future,” the Benediction Club rider said.But winning was not an achievement for just Rwandans. Dutch athlete Berber Kramer has become a familiar figure since Ironman 70.3 Rwanda race was first staged in Rubavu in 2022. Kramer secured her second historic victory at the finish line, reaffirming her status as last year's champion.Rwanda Development Board (RDB) CEO Clare Akamanzi, Ministry of Sports Permanent Secretary Zephanie Niyonkuru and Western Province Governor Francois Habitegeko as well as Ambassador of the State of Israel to Rwanda Ron Adam are among top officials who were in attendance at the second edition of the Ironman 70.3 Triathlon race.While Ironman 70.3 Rwanda race, locally organised by Global Events, was named as the best Ironman and Ironman 70.3 Athletes’ Choice Awards 2022, Akamanzi commended the race’s quick global appeal to not only Rwandans but the international community gathering for the event.“Last year’s race took top honors for overall satisfaction and was voted overall best race at the Ironman 70.3 race. Thank you for voting for Rwanda,” said Akamanzi.“Rwanda is working very hard to continue and cement its reputation as a sports hub. It is something that we take seriously, that we work very hard for and we are willing to do all that we can to position Rwanda as a destination for sports. There is no doubt that Ironman develops a very big competition in the world and organizing it here in Rwanda showcases is truly humbling,” she added.ALSO READ: Ironman Rwanda 70.3 wins global awardFollowing impressive performance in Rubavu, four Rwandan athletes qualified for the Vin Fast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship happening on the 14-15 December 2024 in Taupō, New Zealand. They include Heritier Ishimwe who won the race in the male age group 18-24, Hanani Uwineza who came out on top in the female age group 25-29, Samuel Tuyisenge who came first in the male age group 25-29 as well as Samuel Tuyisenge.Other Rwandan athletes who impressed over the weekend include Faziri Rukara in the male age group 30-34 while Team Bigirimana, Team Tiger and Team Tuyende, all from Rwanda, dominated all three podiums of the top three relay teams.The third edition of the Ironman 70.3 Rwanda race will take place on August 4, 2024 in Rubavu District.