You would think that Matt Hoover (the 2005 Biggest Loser of television reality show fame) would understand the need for hard work and sacrifice.
After all Hover did struggle for an amazing 157-pound weight loss to win the Biggest Loser show back in 2005. So it would be safe to assume that he would understand all of the hard work and sacrifice that thousands of amateur athletes put in each day in an attempt to qualify for the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.
He must surely understand all of the blood, sweat, and tears that goes into racing a triathlon. You know starting at the sprint distance level, and perhaps working up to a 70.3 race, and perhaps even a full Ironman and (with a lot of luck, talent, and speed) one day qualifying for the dream race on the big Island.
Just as there are no short cuts to weight loss, their is no short cut in the world of Ironman racing---unless of course you happen to be Hover.
"I am super excited about it," Hoover tells PEOPLE.
"The Ironman people offered me a special invitation, and I felt as excited as if I got on the Biggest Loser. Every day I wake up, I'm not just thinking like someone who has lost weight or is trying to lose weight. I am thinking, 'I want to be an Ironman.' That's a title that so few people have."
People Magazine goes on to report that even though Hoover has gained back some of the weight he lost on the show he now, "spends 25 hours a week training for the grueling triathlon, which consists of a 2.4-mile open-water swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a marathon 26.2-mile run. "As soon as someone says, 'This guy can't do it,' I'm doing it," he says. "It's going to show a lot of people who have the idea that an athlete is 5'10" and 160 pounds that a big guy can do this and it can be enjoyable."
Wow Matt, you know what would really impress us and how you could really, "show a lot of people who have the idea that an athlete is 5'10" and 160 pounds that a big guy can do this?"
Put in the hard work and ACTUALLY QUALIFY FOR KONA, or at least enter the lottery like everyone else!
All that you are showing us is that like the other Biggest Loser who ran a marathon in a van, your biggest accomplishments are all for the camera with a lot of help and special treatment that in our opinion don't add up to a hill of beans at the end of the day.
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