Hiromu Inada, 91, Sets Age Record at Ironman Cairns Despite Falling Short
91 year old triathlete has become the oldest athlete to compete in an Ironman Cairns event since its launch in 2012.
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A 91-year-old triathlete has set a world record after becoming the oldest person to compete in an Ironman.
Hiromu Inada, of Japan, just fell short of finishing the event on Sunday, pushing to the 87km mark on the bike course but missing the cut-off time to continue.
Ironman Cairns spokesman Craig Heydon said he admired Inada’s dedication.
“He’s been apart of the Ironman family for a long time,” Heydon said.
“We loved having him in Cairns this year. Unfortunately the conditions on the day got the better of him and he wasn’t able to finish.
“I saw him at the start line (on Sunday) and he did look in really good spirits.
“It was incredible to see him out there testing himself yesterday.
“He’s been a long time supporter of Ironman and we hope to see him continue to race again.”
After retiring at 60, Inada started swimming to reclaim his fitness.
At age 85 he completed the Ironman World Championship in 2016, setting a Guinness World Record.
His legacy continued in 2018 when he became the oldest finisher of the gruelling event in Hawaii.
Inada’s presence at Cairns was a testament to his enduring spirit and love for the sport, Mr Heydon said.
He added while the attempt didn’t result in a record-breaking finish, Inada remained in good spirits.
About 10,000 visitors from across the country and the world were in Cairns for the Ironman with 2800 athletes involved.
It’s understood the event will pump $12m into the economy.
In sunny conditions, the athletes that competed in the full course swam 3.8km, rode a 180km bike ride and ran 42.2km.
Western Australian Matt Burton claimed the men’s title, while Hannah Berry won the women’s.
“It’s an outstanding event, not just in terms of economic impact but a showcase of the region as an event destination,” Advance Cairns chief executive Jacinta Reddan said.
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Originally published as Hiromu Inada, 91, Sets Age Record at Ironman Cairns Despite Falling Short
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