In the Ironman races held in Nice, France on September 10, a retired 75-year-old teacher won an incredible victory. Temperatures ranged from the high 20s to the low 40s centigrade under extreme heat conditions. Notably, he became the oldest participant to finish the event and secured first place in the 75 to 79-year-old age group.
Traditionally hosted in Kona, Hawaii, this year’s competition was moved to France and featured a grueling 3.8-kilometer swim, a challenging 180-kilometer bike ride, and a demanding 42-kilometer marathon. His coach, Barrie Shepley, highlighted that this year’s bike course was the toughest and most mountainous in history.
This remarkable victory marked his fourth world championship title.
Shepley praised him as a true inspiration, noting that no other 75-year-old finished the race, and he had more than two hours to spare.
Knuckey, a former marathon champion, ventured into triathlons with Shepley’s guidance and has never looked back. He also dedicates his time to supporting volunteers and coaching local children. He’s a cancer survivor, adding to his resilience.
He dedicated his win to a teammate undergoing cancer treatment.
Knuckey expressed pride in his Caledon roots and the support of the C3 club and coaches during his training.
For those interested in triathlons, they can reach out to Shepley for guidance.
His sponsors include Benson Steel, Royal Containers, RA Tech, HK Accounting, Nuvo Iron, Kinetico, and James Dick.
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Learn more on the Ironman World Championship here!