From druggie to champion – Canadian wins Ironman

CANADIAN Lionel Sanders, a one-time drug addict, who turned his life around to become one of the world’s top 10 ironmen, became Pan American Pro Ironman 70.3 champion  in Panama  on Sunday  January 31.

Sanders, 28 who comes from Harrow Ontario  (pop.3000) , and is currently a student at MacMaster  University, finished with  a time of 3 hours, 38 minutes and 52 seconds.

He was followed by the Frenchman  Antony Costes, (3: 41.53) and Australian Tim Reed (3:44:08).
“It’s the first time I competed in this event in Panama and I promise I ‘ll be back another year,” Sanders said. “I am very happy for this victory it’s  a dream become a reality.”
Sanders said: “The most difficult phase  of the event was the 21 kilometer race, as the heat [33-34  Celsius with a high UV alert] was intense and the road was very hot. “The route was very fast and difficult.” (In Canada, he bike  trains in a room heated to 32 Celsius with high humidity)

The run followed a 1.9 km swim in the canal near the Amador Yacht Club, and a 90 km bike ride from Amador to Costa del Este and back.

Sanders was a highschool cross country runner who gave up competing  and  became addicted to partying,  drugs,  and alcohol  in university, before turning his life around in 2009, first returning to running then  biking and  ultimately  triathalon.  It led him to his standing as an  Ironman after competing in Lousiville, Florida  among others,  and Hawaii, the world’s toughest Ironman event.

Two days before  the event Sanders Tweeted “In Panama and loving it”. His love paid off.
The first  Panamanian to cross the finish line  was Ernesto Fernandez, with a time of 4 hours and 20 minutes.

American Sarah Haskins he was the first woman with a total time of 4 hours, 8 minutes and 53 seconds.
In  second place was her  compatriot Lisa Roberts (4:10:35) and third Heather Lendway (4:10:41).
The first Panamanian woman to cross the finish was Carolina Dementiev, (4: 31.53)