Latest news with #IronmanTriathlon
Indian Express
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
India's first visually impaired Ironman Niket Dalal dies in mishap
The tragic death of Niket Dalal, the country's first visually impaired Ironman, at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar on Tuesday, sent shock waves across the sporting fraternity in Pune, the city in which he trained. Arham Shaikh (32), a brand director with Decathlon Sports India in Pune was Niket's guide during the Ironman training in Pune and the actual event in Dubai in February 2020. 'Niket trained in Pune. He was here for two to three months and I was his guide and navigator, riding a tandem cycle with him and being tethered to him during the swim and run for the event.' Shaikh recalled. They had met through the organisation Adventures Beyond Barriers Foundation (ABBF), set up by Divyanshu Ganatra (who had lost his eyesight to glaucoma) but was keen on conducting outdoor sports activities and building an inclusive world for persons with and without disability. 'I remember meeting Niket through the ABBF and then training together in 2019. He had 100 per cent visual impairment and lost his eyesight. So when we trained together I had to learn and unlearn several things – I was used to running, cycling and swimming in a certain way. Then I had to match the rhythm and adapt with Niket's movement,' Shaikh said. In a tragic and unfortunate incident, Niket was found dead on Tuesday morning due to a fall from the second floor of a hotel in the Samarth Nagar area of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. Son of former Deputy Mayor Lata Dala, as per media reports, a fire had broken out at Niket and his parents' home on the night of June 30. Niket had shifted to a hotel to stay in the wee hours of the morning. On July 1, Niket was found dead in the hotel's parking area as per reports. 'He was the world's fifth differently-abled Ironman,' Shaikh said and said history was made when he finished the Ironman Triathlon (70.3) in February 2020 . 'He was the first blind athlete to complete an Ironman and I am proud that we were in it together,' Shaikh said. The 70.3 Ironman Triathlon included a 1.9km swim, 90 km bicycle ride and 21.1 km run. 'We finished it in 7 hours 44 minutes,' Shaikh said. Niket, who had lost his eyesight due to glaucoma in 2015, was a speech therapist and Shaikh remembered his avid interest in trading on the stock market. 'Niket was constantly reading despite his disability and had a phone with fantastic accessibility features. I remember he would often give me tips during the Covid-19 pandemic,' Shaikh recalled. Niket participated in the Sahyadri classic race along with Shaikh in Mahabaleshwar in 2021. 'Niket's family was also very supportive and both wife and son would go cycling and hiking together with him,' Shaikh recalled. Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition. ... Read More
CBS News
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Oscar Pistorius, former Olympian convicted of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp's murder, returns to racing
Johannesburg — South African former Olympic and paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius has competed in his first race 12 years after murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius, a double leg amputee who has been free on parole since January 2024, competed in an Ironman triathlon in Durban over the weekend. Official results show he clocked a time of 5:56:39, coming in 555th of all participants but taking a third-place medal in the physically challenged category. The grueling Isuzu IRONMAN 70.3 race consisted of a 1.24-mile swim, 55.9-mile bike ride and 13-mile run. South African former Olympic and Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius competes in a triathlon event, 12 years after murdering his girlfriend and a year after his release on parole, in the coastal city of Durban, South Africa, June 1, 2025. Michael Fragoeiro/REUTERS Dubbed "Blade Runner" for his carbon fiber prosthetic legs, Pistorius, now 38, was once the darling of the athletic world, competing in both the Olympics and Paralympics as well as touring the U.S. and appearing on many major talk shows. In August 2012, he became the first double-amputee to compete at the Olympics in London, where he made it to the 400-meter semifinal against fully abled athletes. But the adoration and media attention turned abruptly to global shock on Valentine's Day 2013 when his girlfriend, 29-year-old model Reeva Steenkamp, was fatally shot multiple times through the locked bathroom door at Pistorius' home in a gated community in Pretoria. Pistorius testified during his highly publicized and televised court case that he had mistaken Steenkamp for a burglar. Three of his four shots hit Steenkamp. He was convicted of murder and eventually sentenced to 13 years and 5 months in prison. He spent nine years behind bars in Pretoria before his release, and he will remain on parole until 2029. Conrad Dormhel, a lawyer for Pistorius, confirmed to the Reuters news agency that his client had participated in the race. Pistorius has lived at his uncle's home in Pretoria since his release.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
John Brenkus, risk-taking host of 'Sport Science,' dies after battle with depression
'Sport Science' host John Brenkus, shown in 2018, has died after a battle with depression, his production company said Sunday. (Willy Sanjuan / invision / Associated Press) John Brenkus, the charismatic TV host who found creative ways to get sports fans to think about science, has died, his production company, said Sunday in a statement. 'John, co-founder of Base Productions, founder of and co-creator and host of the 6-time Emmy Award-winning 'Sport Science,' had been battling depression," the statement read. 'John lost his fight with this terrible illness on May 31st, 2025." Advertisement The statement added that Brenkus' "heartbroken family and friends request privacy at this time, and encourage anyone who is struggling with depression to seek help.' Brenkus grew up in Vienna, Va., and was a participant in multiple Ironman Triathlon races. Also a successful businessman and media producer, Brenkus was best known as the host of "Sport Science." Read more: Georgia O'Connor, beloved and unbeaten British boxer, dies at 25 The show aired from 2007-2017, first on Fox Sports as hour-long episodes for two seasons, then on ESPN in segment form within the network's other programs. It featured scientific experiments that tested common notions about athletes, their abilities and the capacity of the human body. Advertisement In addition to the participation of numerous sports stars, Brenkus would often take part in the experiments, putting himself "in harm's way for the sake of scientific discovery," as ESPN once put it. "Standing a very average 5' 8' tall, and tipping the scales at an equally average 160 pounds, Brenkus intersperses his hosting and executive producing duties on Sport Science with performances as the show's 'Everyman,' to help demonstrate what happens when a regular guy steps on the field, into the ring, or on the court with top athletes at the top of their games," a 2009 ESPN press release stated. "Along the way, he helps audiences understand their own physiologies and how to improve their overall performance, health and well-being." ESPN's Randy Scott remembered his former colleague, who was reportedly 53 when he died, Monday morning on "SportsCenter." Advertisement "John was uniquely talented and singularly brilliant at not only analyzing sports but then translating sports and science to generations of fans in memorable ways, because John was memorable," Scott said. "… This world was a better place with John Brenkus in it.' Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
02-06-2025
- Science
- Los Angeles Times
John Brenkus, risk-taking host of ‘Sport Science,' dies after battle with depression
John Brenkus, the charismatic TV host who found creative ways to get sports fans to think about science, has died, his production company, said Sunday in a statement. 'John, co-founder of Base Productions, founder of and co-creator and host of the 6-time Emmy Award-winning 'Sport Science,' had been battling depression,' the statement read. 'John lost his fight with this terrible illness on May 31st, 2025.' The statement added that Brenkus' 'heartbroken family and friends request privacy at this time, and encourage anyone who is struggling with depression to seek help.' Brenkus grew up in Vienna, Va., and was a participant in multiple Ironman Triathlon races. Also a successful businessman and media producer, Brenkus was best known as the host of 'Sport Science.' The show aired from 2007-2017, first on Fox Sports as hour-long episodes for two seasons, then on ESPN in segment form within the network's other programs. It featured scientific experiments that tested common notions about athletes, their abilities and the capacity of the human body. In addition to the participation of numerous sports stars, Brenkus would often take part in the experiments, putting himself 'in harm's way for the sake of scientific discovery,' as ESPN once put it. 'Standing a very average 5' 8' tall, and tipping the scales at an equally average 160 pounds, Brenkus intersperses his hosting and executive producing duties on Sport Science with performances as the show's 'Everyman,' to help demonstrate what happens when a regular guy steps on the field, into the ring, or on the court with top athletes at the top of their games,' a 2009 ESPN press release stated. 'Along the way, he helps audiences understand their own physiologies and how to improve their overall performance, health and well-being.' ESPN's Randy Scott remembered his former colleague, who was reportedly 53 when he died, Monday morning on 'SportsCenter.' 'John was uniquely talented and singularly brilliant at not only analyzing sports but then translating sports and science to generations of fans in memorable ways, because John was memorable,' Scott said. '… This world was a better place with John Brenkus in it.'
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Two forest dept officers redefine endurance with ‘Ironman' titles
1 2 3 4 5 6 'Triumphing over icy waters, strong wind & exhaustion' When deputy conservator of forests (wildlife) Tushar Chavan crossed the finish line at the 'Ironman' triathlon on July 2, 2023, he forever etched his name in history by becoming the first Indian forest service officer to earn the coveted title, conquering the challenging 226km course in Kazakhstan. Regarded as one of the world's most demanding single-day sporting events, the Ironman triathlon is a gruelling test of endurance. It comprises a 3.8km swim, 180.2km cycle ride and 42.2km marathon, all to be completed within 17 hours. At the Kazakhstan leg of the event, Chavan battled icy waters, kicks and jostling from fellow contestants that disrupted his breathing pattern and stability. He, however, overcame all the odds and successfully finished the segment in 1 hour and 54 minutes. The cycling leg proved just as taxing, with strong winds slowing him down. But he persevered, completing the segment in 7 hours and 23 minutes. He then tackled the marathon, pushing through exhaustion and stiff legs to finish in 6 hours and 29 minutes, wrapping up the triathlon in under 15 hours. The training, regarded as more demanding than the actual event, was not a problem for Chavan — a dedicated sportsperson. The 45-year-old seized every opportunity to train, incorporating cycling trips to Bhigwan and Bhimashankar sanctuary into his work outings and logging at least 2 hours of swimming in nearby dams every day. His weekend training started as early as 3am, with only one rest day a week. After rigorous training for over seven months to a year, Chavan competed in the Bergman race in Kolhapur for the half-Ironman title, which gave him the confidence to pursue the final event. H e did not accomplish it alone, but under the guidance of renowned Ironman coach Satish Nalaware; also alongside Chavan at every step was his wife, Sayali. Both supporters showed immense faith in Chavan, he highlighted proudly. "Sayali supported me through it all, standing at the finish line waiting for me," he said. It was not an easy journey, he said. The diet, discipline and physical strain were harsh on him. "This pushed my boundaries, both physically and mentally. As an officer, you are cushioned by the system. The training broke those barriers for me. Representing my country at the event was an exhilarating experience. It taught me to overcome all odds in my life," he told TOI. Chavan now eyes his next Ironman event. 'Builds mental toughness, makes us better officers' Finishing the Baramati full marathon in Dec 2023 marked a turning point for Mayur Bothe, assistant conservator of forests in Pune. This success fuelled his momentum, enabling him to overcome the challenging Ironman Triathlon in Busselton, Western Australia, which he completed in 13 hours and 22 minutes in Dec 2024. Bothe's journey began in June 2023 when his friend and colleague, Deepak Pawar, recognised his potential and encouraged him to pursue it. This sparked a series of challenging runs, including a 21km uphill run at Sinhagad Fort on Aug 13 the same year, followed by the Baramati full marathon. "That's when I decided, I will earn the (Ironman) title," the 35-year-old said. Bothe's training journey was marked by immense dedication, with as little as 2-3 hours of sleep. Despite facing setbacks, including an injury after the Goa Half Ironman and visa issues that threatened his participation, he persevered. While his training group of 13 dwindled because of the challenges, Bothe remained committed to his goal. "I used to throw up during swims. I had no idea how I'd survive the real contest," the forest official told TOI. Bothe's visa to Australia was delayed, almost derailing his participation in the event. However, it arrived eight days before the Ironman triathlon, allowing him to proceed. On the day of the Ironman Triathlon, strong coastal winds threatened to demoralize Bothe. However, he drew inspiration from the support of his loved ones, particularly his wife Kajal. "She cared for our one-year-old alone while I pursued my dream. This thought motivated me to push forward," he said. Bothe recalled the 'exceptional' feeling after he crossed the finish line at the Ironman event. "It sounds crazy, but when you have the right people to push you ahead, you can achieve anything in life, even at 60 years of age. Physical endurance builds mental toughness and that makes us better officers too," he said. He's now training for the Comrades Marathon, an 89-km uphill run held in South Africa.
