STRAIGHT off the back of his winning performance at the Corporate Triathlon Challenge (CTC), Kyle White, a first year IIE BCom business management student at The IIE’s Varsity College Nelson Mandela Bay, recently took top spot in both the Bell Buoy Challenge and the 3 Beaches Swim-Run Challenge in Gqeberha.
The Bell Buoy Challenge is considered to be Africa’s toughest Indian Ocean swim, where contestants swim 2.5km in open water towards the Bell Buoy – the turning point of the contest – and then swim 2.5km back to the shore. It’s quite an achievement considering the Ironman open water swim is only 4.2km.
“I am super proud of myself to have conquered it,” said White.
He achieved his fourth consecutive first place in the 3 Beaches Swim-Run Challenge.
This challenge takes place over three stages on the sandy beaches of the Nelson Mandela Bay.
The first swim starts at Kings Beach rounding a marker buoy and then towards Humewood Beach around the rocks. There is then a short run on the Humewood Beach followed by a swim to Hobie Beach around the six-pack and the pier.
This is followed by a short run on Hobie Beach before going back into the ocean, around the marker buoy and all rock structures before heading on to Pollok Beach for transition three. There is then a foot race along the beach front on the public footpath back towards Kings Beach and crossing the finish line on the beach.
“I was super chuffed to have taken the win again and look forward to what the future holds for me,” White said.
White’s biggest competition also happened to be his inspiration, triathlon coach and one of PE’s top sportsmen, Bruce Campbell, of Aspire Triathlon Club.
“He has worked super hard and always approaches a race with a plan. Controlling and managing your effort over the longer distances can be very tough mentally but Kyle sticks to his plan no matter what, which shows his strength and mental focus,” said Campbell.
“I have been training him over the last three to four years and witnessing his growth has been remarkable. Kyle can achieve anything he puts his mind to, and I am so eager to witness the continued development in his sporting career.”
White’s swimming season has just kicked off which means he will be racking up plenty kilometres in training for USSA which takes place in August and then he will be looking ahead at the ZSports People’s Triathlon in September this year.
– ISSUED BY THE IIE’S VARSITY COLLEGE
