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Attempting the Seemingly Impossible...

Friday, 12 February 2021 23:10

By Brad Culp (triathlete.com)

At some point in early 2022, Alistair Brownlee, Kristian Blummenfelt, Lucy Charles-Barclay, and Nicola Spirig will attempt something seemingly impossible. The two men will attempt to break seven hours for an iron-distance triathlon and the two women will try to break eight. ...

As was the case with the first attempt at Nike’s Breaking2 project, succeeding or failing isn’t really the point. Some 13.1 million people tuned in to watch Eliud Kipchoge fall just 25 seconds short of running a marathon in less than two hours in 2017, many of whom were watching him run for the first time. (Two years later, at the Ineos 1:59 Challenge, Kipchoge ran 1:59:40 with approximately 4.9 million people watching.)

The organizers of Pho3nix Sub7/Sub8 are hopeful this stunt could generate similar viewership and social media buzz, helping to elevate the sport and the four athletes involved. Behind this unique event is Singapore-based Manna Group, which is led by triathlon legend Chris McCormack. “Macca” has also been the driving force behind billionaire-funded SuperLeague and Bahrain Endurance 13, and now he’s found another magnate to bankroll an ambitious triathlon project. This time it’s Pho3nix Foundation Founder Sebastian Kulczyk, who is one of the richest people in Poland.  READ MORE