British triathlete Caroline Livesey has become the first person to win what is billed as the “world’s most extreme triathlon” twice.
Livesey, who does much of her training in Mallorca, won the Patagonman XTRI in Chile for the first time in 2022 and has just repeated the feat.
The event was once described by triathlon legend Tim Don as “the hardest and one of the most special races I’ve ever done”. And 2023 winner Laura Siddall reflected on Patagonman as more of an adventure than a race, describing it as “raw swim, bike and run.”
Livesey was the dominant winner of the women’s race and also finished third overall behind men’s champion Josiah Middaugh of the USA.
The ultimate challenge
The full-distance event sees athletes swim 3.8 kilometres in the Aysén Fjord, cycle 180km along the famous Carretera Austral and then run 42.2km.
And after what is one of the hardest marathons in the sport, they ring the bell at the finish line and take home the champion’s “boina”, a local Patagonian beret.
The participants came from 45 countries, jumping off the ferry into the icy 12.2°C water.
Of the 182 who boarded the ferry, 159 would go on to reach the finish line.
The day was marked by challenging currents during the swim, cold and windy conditions on the bike course, and a spectacularly sunny run. The cycling route featured sections of gravel while there was a river crossing during the run segment. The infamous Aysén winds played a starring role as well.
Livesey’s time was 11 hours, two minutes and 24 seconds, with her splits 55:17 in the swim, 5:52:46 on the bike and then 4:05:50 on the run.
‘High definition day’
Afterwards she said on Instagram: “There is no experience in triathlon quite like this race. Here at the bottom of the world in Chile, a small team of passionate people have come up with something which is truly special.
“The combination of the landscape, the organisers, the local people, the athletes and crew who come here, and the extreme nature of the event create an experience which resonates so deeply with people. Not just the brave athletes who race it, but all those crewing, spectating and following remotely. It’s an adventure that captures the imagination in a way that can’t be explained in words.
“Coming here for a second time to race was like going to see a really amazing film again. The first time I raced my senses and emotions were so overwhelmed that I struggled to take it all in and the day is a little blurry in my memory.
“This time the high definition day was slowed down and amplified by the warmth I felt being welcomed back by the event family. I saw and felt things I missed last time. And I raced with a purity of effort and spirit that perhaps even surpassed 2022. I was fully immersed, and able to physically push myself to new limits. That is something all athletes search for. I feel incredibly lucky to have had that day.
“I want to thank every athlete who took time to come and tell me that they had watched @the_brick_session Patagonman film and share how it had inspired them in their own journey. You probably can’t understand how important that is to both Mark and I.”
For those who haven’t watched it yet, that film is embedded below.
Inspired by Livesey’s incredible feat? Check out these 6 top tips for taking on an ‘Xtreme’ triathlon.
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