Man Turns into First Triathlete Recognized to Have Autism to End Ironman 70.Three World Championship
Crossing the finish line after a strenuous triathlon is certainly an achievement and something that must be celebrated under all circumstances. However, a finisher at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship 2021 in Utah has an additional reason to celebrate.
Sam Holness, a 27 year old from Great Britain, was the first triathlete known to have autism to finish the race. According to his father and trainer Tony Holness, Sam completed the feat in a time of 5 hours and 44 minutes.
In an Instagram post, Sam said: “I did it, I’m the first known autistic #triathlete to compete in the #ironmantri 70.3 #ironmanworldchampionship. Thank you for following me and all the wonderful people we met in #utah. “
He also told CBS News that he is proud and can’t wait to get back to training.
His father, meanwhile, was overwhelmed with emotion and said that this was not something they thought possible a few years ago.
Tony told CBS News, “As a coach, that’s great. As a parent, it’s just amazing. We actually sit down and think: ‘Is this real?’ “
Completing the race – which includes a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride, and a 21.1-mile run – required a lot of training. Sam spent a lot of time in the pool, on his bike, and on runs between 10 and 20 miles. He would take naps and yoga to relax.
Speaking to CNN about Sam’s tenacity and discipline, his former trainer David Blackwood said, “I would also say that he could be on par with athletes without physical disabilities. Sam could potentially hit someone without a physical or mental disability. “
“He gets along with things and focuses on the basic tasks. He is relentlessly disciplined to achieve it, and we know that in most sports: repetition, discipline and consistency are the basic things that get you going the most. “
Sam believes his autism has helped him focus on achieving his goals and says it is his “super power”.
He explains, “Every time I exercise, autism has built my confidence, self-esteem, and reduced stress, and I don’t get bored easily.”
Boredom does not remain for him, with his next goals in mind: the virtual London Marathon in 2021 and a few weeks later another Ironman race in Portugal. Through all of this, Sam and Tony hope that Sam’s story will inspire others and open up more opportunities for people on the spectrum.
Tony says, “If you can just inspire people and raise awareness about autism, you are helping employers get more people on the spectrum and do it through exercise, and that is limited to our mission and what we want to do. ”
Follow him on Instagram to keep up with Sam’s athletic journey and his goal of becoming the first professional triathlete with autism.
