 Funny, I just read the story about Lionel Sanders in the Spec… kinda cool that he crushed the very tough Muskoka 70.3 and won it… but that’s not that big of a deal… I mean someone wins every race, right? (I mean it IS a big deal, because I sure as hell couldn’t win it… but, you know what I mean)… however the background story about his is more than a little amazing. Never met the guy… but I like him.
As somone that trained to try and make the Olympic team many years ago, I can tell you that you never know what will happen on that fateful day at Olympic Trials… but having said that… I’d be more surprised if he didn’t make the team, than if he did. And even if he doesn’t make the team… I really like this guy. Here is the link to the story in the Spec and a comment from TriRudy that his coach, Barry Shepley (also 2 time Olympic medalist, Simon Whitfield’s coach) wrote about his race in Muskoka. Congrats Lionel. Cheers, Rob
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by barrie shepley  That question has been asked a lot over the past few days since the McMaster University student put together one of the greatest 70.3 races in Canadian history. While it may sound a bit like an extra hype, when you understand his journey, I am sure you will agree. As a young high school student in Harrow Ontario (southern Ontario) Lionel showed world-class cross country & 3k running capacity. Fast forward to post-high school and he got himself into trouble with drugs and depression and at one point was on a step ladder ready to end his disappointing life. Fortunately he stepped down off that ladder and took the chain off his neck and decided to give sport another try. Four years later, Lionel is a university student at Mcmaster with top grades, one of the top runners in the country and has found his true calling in the sport of triathlon. Through the help of C3  Canadian Cross Training Club and our sponsors (Gears BIke Shop, Specialized, Nineteen Wetsuits, Benson Steel, Royal Containers and Kinetico) and Lionel’s team-mates and coaches he has had a virtually undefeated summer winning the Toronto Triathlon Festival event by nearly 5 minutes. His entire summer was focused on Muskoka 70.3 and on Sunday he showed that his previously weak swim is improving by coming out of the water just 3 min behind the top Kiwi Swimmer Tom Davison. Lionel then powered his Specialized Shiv faster then anyone on the day and moved from 7th to 2nd off the bike. Within 2 miles he was in the lead with some of the best in the world from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most importantly Andreas Raelert (Germany Kona medalist) chasing him down. Nobody got a whiff of Lionel as he ran a 1hr 10 minute (yes 1:10) for the hard (new and likely harder 13.1 mile run course) to win the race by nearly 6.5 minutes. An elated Sanders was also at the finishing line when his mother got their (she was the one that inspired him to get off the ladder and save his life some 4 years ago). A truly spectacular guy, he is barrie shepley |
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