Strong Fields Expected At Aviva Ironman 70.3 Singapore

Australian and New Zealand athletes head up the competitive field

The inaugural Aviva Ironman 70.3 Singapore triathlon has already attracted more than 850 athletes, representing 40 countries so far, and all entered for the first ever Asian Ironman 70.3 event, set for September 2 in Singapore.

A number of Aussie and Kiwi international elite triathletes will take on each other, and the world's best athletes, for the title of Aviva Ironman 70.3 Singapore champion. The quintet of major athletes who have so far committed their entry can number a total of 11 Ironman triathlon wins, a trio of Ironman 70.3 wins, two world championships and some awesome performances in long distance international events.

From New Zealand is three-time Ironman winner, New Zealand's Bryan Rhodes. The two-time Ironman Malaysia and Ironman UK victor, Rhodes is a colourful journeyman who holds the honour of winning the world's hottest ever Ironman, Ironman Malaysia on a 43C day in 2001.

He's since won Ironman UK and repeated his win in Malaysia, proving the man from the cool climate of New Zealand has no fear of heat or humidity! He's already a veteran of the Ironman 70.3 format, having raced a number of the Ironman 70.3 events, with a recent fourth place finish in Florida.

Rhodes is a spectacular swimmer, with a strong bike and run combination and is looking forward to returning to racing in Asia.

"If I win there will be a Haka and a good party!" says Rhodes, whose signature piece upon winning a major race includes a spectacular rendition of the famous Maori Haka at the after party! "I'm also excited to be racing in Asia again, where I have had most of my career wins."

Challenging Rhodes is Australia’s Jason Shortis, who with 40 Ironman races, five Ironman titles and a podium finish in Ironman 70.3 under his belt, was the first of the elite stars to sign on for the Aviva Ironman 70.3.

Shortis has a long and distinguished career with Ironman wins in Malaysia, Western Australia, Japan, and the USA to his credit. He was second at the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Australia just last November. He is also the fastest Ironman in Australia having lowered the local record to 8:03 in last November's Ironman Western Australia.
A sensational runner and strong cyclist and swimmer, Shortis is one of the most exciting athletes on the Ironman scene, a man who never gives less than 100% and he's a crowd favourite whereever he races.

Joining the men is a trio of Aussie International females, led by extroverted Aussie stalwart, Belinda Granger, fresh from a major victory in the first Ironman 70.3 Australia.

Granger has three wins at Ironman Korea, one at Ironman Canada, has also won in Roth, Germany. She is excited to be heading to Singapore and plans to do some serious pre-Hawaii training in the area.

"I am very excited to be racing in Asia again as it is really where my career as a professional Ironman athlete took off." said Belinda this week. "It was where I won my first Ironman title at Ironman Korea back in 2001 and, of course, I won the race two more times after that, so it really is a special place for me with many wonderful memories."

"I also had a great time and a solid race at Ironman Malaysia, finishing second in 2003 and I have raced the Laguna Phuket triathlon in Phuket four times now and have never finished worse than third, so it is obvious that I really enjoy racing in Asia and I seem to always race really well here too."

"Now I am really looking forward to racing in Singapore as I have not had the pleasure of racing in this country yet. Hopefully I will have the same luck here too."

"It is also very exciting to be part of history in racing the first ever Aviva Ironman 70.3 in Singapore. I raced the inaugural Ironman 70.3 in Port Macquarie, Australia at the end of last year and I won it on my Ironman 70.3 debut and I believe that was a great omen."

"The Aviva Ironman 70.3 will now be my second Ironman 70.3 race so hopefully I can follow tradition and win this one as well! The Aviva Ironman 70.3 is going to be an integral part in my preparation for the Ford Ironman World Championships in Hawaii and I will base myself in Singapore for the month of September in order to prepare for that race."

Ranked against Granger and already making a name for herself on the other side of the world is fellow Aussie Miranda Carfrae, who finished third at the inaugural Ford Ironman 70.3 World Championship last November. Carfrae has dedicated 2007 to making the transition to Ironman 70.3 complete.

Carfrae has two Ironman 70.3 wins to her credit at this time, and has stepped up to Ironman 70.3 from a successful career in World Cup and short course racing where she scored sliver twice in the U23 World Championships and at the 2005 World Long Distance champs. She also won the famed Nice LD triathlon in 2004.

Also making Singapore a major focus of her 2007 season is two-time world champion Joanne King who, in a distinguished career, has won the World Olympic Distance champs as a senior and as an U23 competitor. She's also a rare non-German winner of Ironman Germany and has a host of wins in many events of varying distances.

Joanne is looking forward to making the Aviva Ironman 70.3 Singapore her first Ironman 70.3 podium, having already won on the Australian Half Ironman circuit in her come back to the sport. King is well known to the Singapore triathlon fraternity, racing in the OSIM short course race in past years.

The race will also herald some breakthrough performances from some new stars from around the region and is also being used as a lead-up to both the famed Ford Ironman World Championship in Hawaii and the Ford Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Florida.

Further information and online entry is available through the event website at www.ironman703singapore.com