The Bahrain Victorious 13 team have come together in Bahrain for the Ironman 70.3 Middle East Championships as well as the annual team camp. This is the first time they have done so since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, and they are brimming with excitement for the week they have ahead of them.
Holly Lawrence returns to defend her title as three-time champion, while Vincent Luis is racing in Bahrain for the first time and looking to continue his winning ways. For David Plese who is based in the Kingdom, this is his hometown race and homecoming after competing all around the world this season, while Henri Schoeman is hoping for a better result to end a tough year.
Kristian Blummenfelt will be anchoring His Highness Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s relay team. His Highness Shaikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Khalifa will kick off the team’s efforts on the swim, with HHSN doing what he loves most riding his bike. Meanwhile, Jan Frodeno, Alistair Brownlee, and Georgia Taylor-Brown are doing the swim leg for age group teams.
It isn’t all about racing this week: the Bahrain Victorious 13 are set to give back to the community during the team camp that includes inspirational visits to Bayan School and triathlon coaching academy The Triathlete Factory, a social ride and breakfast with HHSN, volunteering at the IronKids race, and more.
Cassandre Beaugrand joins Lawrence and Taylor-Brown in attending the Victorious Women’s Forum held as part of Ironman 70.3 Bahrain race week. Women’s participation in the race has doubled since its first edition in 2016, and with Bahrain Women’s Day having taken place in the past week, this celebrates the continued growth of women’s involvement in sport in the Kingdom.
“We are thrilled to be back in our second home for the race and team camp. This is always the highlight of our season and was sorely missed these past few years,” says Bahrain Victorious 13 team CEO Chris McCormack. “Sport can be a powerful catalyst for social change and is also a great unifying force. The Bahrain Victorious 13 is proud to be at the forefront of this in Bahrain and the Gulf region, as the brainchild of His Highness Shaikh Nasser.”
