Sarah Crowley’s softball slide helps her to Hawaii ironman bronze
SARAH Crowley may not have made it to the finish of the Hawaii ironman, let alone won a bronze medal, if it hadn’t been for a move honed during her softball playing days.
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SARAH Crowley may not have made it to the finish of the Hawaii ironman, let alone won a bronze medal, if it hadn’t been for a good mate shouting encouragement and a move honed during her softball playing days.
The Australian triathlete, who will race next month’s Noosa Triathlon, has revealed just how close she was to seeing her race end on the side of a hot highway in Hawaii midway through one of the most gruelling events on the planet.
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Crowley, who finished behind Daniela Ryf and Lucy Charles in the elite women's test, was left with abrasions, cuts and “lots of road rash’’ after coming off her bike in the 180km bike leg.
But she managed to get back on her bike and ride and run to third place in the world championship race.
“I’m pretty bruised and battered coming off the bike at about 70km into the bike leg. It’s pretty sore,’’ said Crowley after “the most painful shower of my life’’.
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“I don’t know how I managed to get back up straight away. I heard someone yell, ‘get up Sarah, get up’, and I did.
“It shook me up quite a bit. I was lying on the ground wondering if this was my knockout punch.
“But I think the way I slid helped save me. I used to play softball so I know how to slide along the ground.’’
The supportive words of advice came from fellow Australian Annabel Luxford, a former Olympic distance star who finished ninth in the Hawaii ironman. Carrie Lester was the third Australian woman in the top 10 with her seventh place.
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Crowley’s recent success in endurance triathlon - which includes winning the world long distance title in 2017 - cames after she gave up full-time work to concentrate on the sport.
“I’ve also improvement my swim, a lot,’’ she said.
“In the future I know I can progress more. It’s exciting.’’