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| Bryan Rhodes competing in Auckland Half Ironman, 2005 |
Kiwi long distance triathlete Bryan Rhodes is out for the rest of the season and will require surgery after seriously injuring his Achilles tendon at the start of the Steelhead Ironman 70.3 event on the weekend.
“Running into the swim another athlete either stood on my heel or grabbed my heel with their hand as I was accelerating forward running”, said Rhodes in his post race summary. “I felt my Achilles tendon snap”.
Rhodes rolled onto his back initially and after a few moments continued in the swim exiting 4th. It was only when he exited the water and tried to stand up that he felt the extent of his injury.
“I yelled out for help and several volunteers came to my rescue carrying me into the shore and to the medical tent in a wheel chair. The medical team knew that it was extremely bad so I ended up in the ambulance to the hospital”.
Rhodes will return home for surgery and rehab this week, and will be unable to defend his title at Ironman Canada later this month, as well as missing out on Ironman Hawaii in October.
