Union make force. A set phrase that has completely become a reality in the rSports event of three for triathletes with functional diversities: José Cristóbal Ramos, Ramón Lage and Salvador Jiménez. The three participated last Sunday in the IRONMAN 70.3 of Marbellaforming a team (Team Sobre2ruedas Bike) and with a excellent result. A test consisting of swim 1.9 km, bike 90 km and run a half marathon (21.1 km). His story could be described with many words, but it can be summed up with just a couple: overcoming and emotion.
All of them are united by a passion for sports and the fact that they have overcome their situation to move forward, doing what they like without regretting anything. Josephfor example, he was already practicing sports before his fatal accident when one day while he was training hard to prepare for the MTB Marathon in his neighboring town, He suffered a severe fall that caused a spinal cord injury. and left him sitting in a wheelchair. Ramon He already practiced triathlon a few years ago, but one day while he was training on a bike with his usual group was hit by a vehicle while they were stopped. Y savior had to face since he was 21 years old, to an osteosarcoma that ended up causing the amputation of his leg. He then started with the sport due to his overweight problems and he still remembers the day he got on the bike for the first time with the prosthesis and was not able to do more than 3 km.
Y a few years later they meet to overcome the challenge of Marbella. Ramón, in the swimming section, Salvador facing the 90 km of cycling and, finally, José Cristóbal Ramos Jiménez running with his athletics chair the final half marathon with arrival at Puerto de Banús in Marbella. Spoiler alert: In the end they crossed the finish line together with indescribable joy. With an admirable record of 4 hours and 54 minutes.
A challenge and a motivation
It all started when Salvador, who had already participated alone two years ago, proposed to his two companions the idea of form a team in this new edition of the popular IRONMAN 70.3 in Marbella. Said and done. The proposal was very well received and they took it as an exciting adventure and challenge, especially considering that the three are from the province of Malaga.
The main objective of their joint presence in this test, demanding and with a spectacular route, andto give more visibility to athletes with functional diversity and, at the same time, send a message of motivation to all those who have difficulties so that they achieve what they set out to do. And we can give good faith that they have succeeded! Their tenacity and passion for sport (and life) has driven them to overcome this challenge.
In addition to being a joint challenge, each of them had their own personal motivation. This is the case of Ramón, who was training to compete in this IRONMAN 70.3 a few years ago, when he suffered a serious accident after being hit by a car. For his part, José Cristóbal, one of the most outstanding para triathletes in Spain, pointed out before the race that his source of motivation was also “toHelp Ramón compete again, rediscover that feeling and enjoy it”.
An unforgettable experience
Precisely, Ramón was the first of the team to open the competition in the swimming test. An entry that remembers this way: “It was a little difficult for me to get in, because the waves dragged me towards the shore until I was able to turn face down and begin to take the first strokes. Once you start to take the first strokes, you can concentrate on what you are doing & rdquor ;, she adds with satisfaction. Coming out of the water also presented difficulties for him, because the transition process is slower than that of his teammates, as he had to put on his prosthesis again and walk before handing over to Salvador. For those who love figures: he did this segment in 41 minutes and 34 seconds.
Nerves. With many nerves. This is how Salvador was on the day of the test while waiting for Ramón’s arrival after swimming the initial almost 2 kilometers. “I remember the nerves when seeing him get out of the water, every time he got close to me, my heart rate went to a hundred per houras if it were already in competition & rdquor ;, explains the team captain. In his head he had the goal of doing the 90 km by bike in less than three hours. And so he did: 2 hours and 58 minutes was the time it took to cover his segment before taking over from José.
Salvador Jiménez did 2 hours and 58 minutes in the 90km by bike
| IRONMAN®
The final stretch, and no less hard, with 21 km ahead, it was in the hands of José Cristóbal. This paraplegic triathlete, with more than seven years of career, ran the half marathon in Puerto Banús in his athletics chair, in 1 hour and 8 minutes, and affirms that “it has been an unforgettable experience, I think it is the most rewarding race and emotional that I have done so far & rdquor ;. In this sense, he highlights that in his sports career “I have not seen anything like it & rdquor ;. “Thanks to the support received, both within the test by volunteers and the organization, as well as that of the public and the runners themselves, it has taken us on wings to achieve our challenge & rdquor ;, he remarks.
The arrival at the finish line, a memory for a lifetime
Undoubtedly, the three coincide, the entrance to the finish line all together when José approached the triumphal arch is the part that they remember the most with emotion. “It is a spectacular photo that we keep in our memorywe show that one can overcome everything and meet their goals & rdquor ;, they say.
with the same feeling they keep in memory all the support received during the course of the IRONMAN 70.3 Marbella. His words describe him thus: “FIt was very exciting to see how people turned to us when they saw us passcheered us on in many different languages”. A thank you that they also transfer to the organization of this sporting eventThe IRONMAN Group, for the support received in their dream (now a reality) of competing together and for giving visibility to adapted sport.
Tenacious as they are, they already have their next sporting challenge in mind. And it is neither more nor less than finish a full IRONMAN. They feel prepared and with their example in Marbella it has become clear that with effort, enthusiasm and preparation few things are impossible.