{"id":15252,"date":"2022-06-29T10:38:12","date_gmt":"2022-06-29T08:38:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.220triathlon.com\/?p=105705"},"modified":"2022-06-29T10:50:13","modified_gmt":"2022-06-29T08:50:13","slug":"sam-holness-becomes-worlds-first-openly-autistic-athlete-to-complete-an-ironman","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/rss_feed\/sam-holness-becomes-worlds-first-openly-autistic-athlete-to-complete-an-ironman\/","title":{"rendered":"Sam Holness becomes world\u2019s first openly autistic athlete to complete an Ironman"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By 220 Triathlon Team\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 29 June 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Britain\u2019s Sam Holness has become the world\u2019s first openly autistic endurance athlete to complete an Ironman at the Ironman European Championship in Frankfurt, Germany.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sam completed the 3.8km swim, 180km bike and full marathon in 12 hours and 29 minutes on Sunday 26 June.\u00a0Lining up against some of the best athletes in the world, Sam made a confident start in the water with a 1:04hr swim.<\/p>\n

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Sam\u2019s autism has proven to be his \u2018superpower\u2019 giving him a hyper focussed approach to his training and racing (Credit: Marcel Hilger)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Despite suffering from gastric intestinal issues, Sam then posted an impressive 6:15:44 for the hilly 180km loop, which included 1,934m of elevation.<\/p>\n

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Sam fought the heat and GI issues on the 180km bike to complete it in 6:15:44 (Credit: Marcel Hilger)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Next up was the marathon run, which despite the punishing heat he completed to make history as the first openly autistic endurance athlete to complete an Ironman.<\/p>\n

On finishing Sam said: \u201cThis is the greatest day of my life; I am now an Ironman Man! Iron Sam the Triathlete sounds good. I am determined that I will never stop doing this.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a really tough and hot race, but I kept going even though it hurt a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Sam greeted by his parents at the finish line in Frankfurt (Credit: Marcel Hilger)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Who is Sam Holness?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Sam, 29, from London had been preparing for this landmark moment for the last three years, as part of his ultimate goal of becoming the first professional endurance athlete with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).<\/p>\n

In September 2021 he raced as an age-grouper at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship<\/strong><\/a> in Utah, finishing in 5:44:39.<\/p>\n

His coach and father, Tony Holness, said: \u201cAs a family we\u2019re so happy to see Sam become an Ironman. So proud, we\u2019re the proudest parents in the world today!<\/p>\n

\u201cHe swam superbly, and despite challenges on the bike, and the heat on the run but he pushed through so many barriers to get to the finish line<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was fantastic and even the challenges he faced are good preparation and experience for Sam\u2019s as he grows as an athlete.<\/p>\n

Through sport, Sam is challenging stereotypes associated with neurodiversity, while tackling one of the world\u2019s toughest endurance sports.<\/p>\n

Through this new landmark in triathlon, Sam continues to inspire the autistic community of which there are an estimated 80 million individuals globally.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s next for Sam Holness?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In October, Sam hopes to complete another Ironman first for an athlete with ASD by competing at the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is with huge thanks to Hoka and The Ironman Group for providing Sam with the opportunity to compete in both Frankfurt and later this year at the world championship event,\u201d added Tony.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeyond helping Sam on his journey to making endurance sport his profession they have taken a position of global leadership in promoting the opportunity for greater inclusiveness.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sam is an ambassador for Britain\u2019s Ambitious about Autism<\/strong><\/a>, who like Sam are redefining how people think about autism.<\/p>\n

Top image:<\/strong> Marcel Hilger<\/p>\n