ROHRMAN SPORTS ASSOCIATION

French professional triathlete Benjamin “Benji” Sanson is the latest to sign up for the Digicel Wadadli Tinman and joins the list of high profile athletes slated for the half-iron distance triathlon on January 29^th 2012 starting at the Catamaran Hotel in Falmouth Harbour.

 

Benji will now be among the clear favourites to be crowned champion of the first ever Digicel Wadadli Tinman along with Argentina’s Claudio Delpeuche, Nevis’ Reginald ‘Reggie’ Douglas and Antigua and Barbuda’s Andre Simon.

 

The four accomplished triathletes have been named as the four ambassadors of the Digicel Wadadli Tinman and will seek to focus the attention of the global triathlon community on Antigua and Barbuda.

 

40 year old Benji, who has been a professional triathlete for almost 20 years including at the ITU and Ironman levels, is probably most famous for his exploits in the swimming leg of triathlon. As a former youth world champion swimmer Benji almost always conquers the swim leg in first place including at the most competitive of races in the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.

 

However Benji’s talents are not limited to one portion of the event as he often posts one of the fastest bike splits and his overall ability has seen him capture numerous titles and top finishes in Olympic distance, half-Ironman and Ironman triathlons across the world.

 

Benji and Claudio in particular will provide some intense competition with the two having met once before in California with Benji taking 1^st and Claudio taking 3^rd in a close race. “I know Claudio, he is a very good athlete but I hope to win” Sanson said.

 

The former world champion swimmer also hopes to spend some time assisting the local swim clubs whilst he is down on island. To that extent plans are to host a day for young swimmers to meet with and test themselves against the pro triathlete. And with impressive swim times of 1’49 for the 200m, 3’47 for the 400, 7’51 for the 800m and 15’00 for the 1500m freestyle it should be a fun day.

 

The Digicel Wadadli Tinman includes two main categories; individual and team. Team categories will include one swimmer, one cyclist and one runner.

 

The Digicel Wadadli Tinman is a unique sporting challenge where competitors in four sports; swimming, cycling, running and triathlon compete over a gruelling 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile cycle and 13.1 mile run on January 29th 2012.

 

The Digicel Wadadli Tinman is made possible by support from its sponsors; Digicel, the Observer Media Group, Aquafina, Sobe, Pepsi, the American University of Antigua (AUA), Sterlings, Catamaran Hotel, Xtreme Health and Fitness, Cedars Pottery and Adventure Antigua. This event is hosted by the Wadadli Triathlon Club and endorsed by the Antigua and Barbuda Triathlon (ABTRI) Association and Ministry of Sports.