From ‘Halo’ to podium – Tim Don wins on his return to Pro racing
The story of ‘The Don’ continues…
What can you say to that, except, WOW.
Unless you’ve been in a cave for the past nine months, if you are triathlon fan you’ll surely be familiar with the struggles of Tim Don. From broken neck in Kona, three days before the IRONMAN World Championship to three months in the ‘Halo’ – all brilliantly covered in this stunning documentary.
When we spoke to Tim Don in April, he told us that his run at the Boston Marathon was the closing of one chapter and the start of the next – “”Boston was important for me. That was my transition… I’m trying now to not see myself as someone recovering from injury.”
Well, Sunday’s return and win at IRONMAN 70.3 Costa Rica would appear to put the seal on that goal. As recently as May we know that Tim was having to to his swim training with a snorkle, his neck still restricted from his accident – so when he came of of the water in Costa Rica with the leaders, which included 2016 Olympian, Ryan Fisher (AUS), you have to be impressed.
Tim had also joked with me that his time trial ‘shrug’ aero position should be pretty good now, because “I can’t move my bloody neck anyway!”, so when he came of the bike with almost a minute’s lead, well, things were looking good. Could he hold it? Fisher wasn’t letting go, the gap between him and Don hovering at around one minute throughout the 21km of the run – but the Brit held strong, closed with a 1:17:13 half marathon and what will surely be one of the most emotional podiums of his very long career.
TIM DON WINS COSTA RICA 70.3.. was great seeing him get some of the preparations done at Les Stables Triathlon camps in france earlier in the year.. another win for the @Matthew Bottrill coaching team… AWSOME RESULT
Posted by Pace Setter Events on Sunday, June 24, 2018
Wow that feeling, the Work and team around me is just AMAZING, thank you for all the support and love over the last 8 months 😘👊🏁. Pushed all day by @RyanFisher20🥈 & @santiargo 🇧🇷🥉. It was a hot one out there 🔥🔥🔥
📸 @Trimexico pic.twitter.com/eXCdEcLUxO— Tim Don (@trithedon) June 24, 2018
IRONMAN 70.3 Costa Rica – Sunday 24th June 2018
1.9km / 90km / 21.1km
PRO MEN
1st – Tim Don (GBR) – 3:49:59
2nd – Ryan Fisher (AUS) – 3:50:57
3rd – Santiago Ascenco (BRA) – 3:54:36
PRO WOMEN
1st – Lauren Goss (USA) – 4:29:15
2nd – Sarah Cometo (USA) – 4:44:26
3rd – Lotty Harari (PAN) – 5:01:13