Editor's Note: The boys at the Ironman Talk Podcast have a new series of shows that focuses on some of the great legend of Ironman racing. Check out the show below as the interview one of the sport's founding fathers.
The Hawaii Ironman has without doubt become the holy grail for triathletes around the world. To simply qualify to be amongst the 2000 participants on the start line is a massive achievement. However in 1978 a mere 15 men stood shoulder to shoulder ready to embark on the first ever Ironman. The winner of the inaugural race was a taxi driving marathon runner by the name of Gordon Heller. At the time none of the men who competed that day could have fathomed how the sport would evolve over the next 30 years.
With little being known about the early years John and Bevan from the Thanyapura Legends of Triathlon podcast interviewed Gordon Heller to find out what really happened back in 1978 and the years that followed.
A great story teller, Gordon tells of the early adventures in Hawaii, the athletes that competed and the politics in sport that started very early on. If you are a triathlon fan and would like to know what it was really like in the early days this is an interview you can’t miss.
To listen visit www.legendsoftriathlon.com or via I-Tunes go to:
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/podcast/imtalks-legends-of-triathon/id484630310
The Thanyapura Legends of Triathlon podcast is an off shoot of the popular weekly podcast IMTalk. Some of the legends already interviewed include Mark Allen, Greg Welch, Mike Pigg, Scott Tinley, Erin Baker, Karen Smyers, Scott Molina, Simon Whitfield and Spencer Smith