IRON YAYA

I participated in the Nyon triathlon twice. It wasn't easy given my disability, which prevents me from moving like everyone else. When I swim, I can't use my legs, I have much less strength in my arms, I ride a tandem bike and I can only walk, and even then, at a moderate pace.

 

I never wanted to give up on setting myself sporting goals. My first triathlon was in 2018; it was a half-marathon. For the first time in 10 years, I was making a physical effort. I enjoyed participating in the event, I was proud to have accomplished this feat, but I didn't want to be satisfied with that and do things halfway.

 

I was told that a half-Ironman was already good, but I wanted to prove to myself that I could do more, so I signed up for the Olympic distance the following year. While my first competition gave me the pleasure of the effort, the second rekindled my enjoyment of training with a goal in mind. In August 2019, I finished my first triathlon in 11 hours, 29 minutes, and 55 seconds. Of course, I was the last to cross the finish line, but above all, I felt an immense sense of pride.

 

With that in mind, I couldn't leave it at that. I immediately wanted to recapture that adrenaline rush that had driven me throughout the race, while setting myself an even greater challenge. Covid prevented me from moving forward with my plans, but it did plant the seed in my mind of wanting to achieve a performance over the Ironman 70.3 distance.

 

In the fall of 2020, the Iron Yaya was launched. Several months were needed to refine the project, which took place on the weekend of September 19th and 20th, 2021. The event unfolded in and around Lake Geneva, with the finish line in Nyon. It consisted of a 2km swim, a 90km tandem bike ride, and a 21km walk.

 

That's insane!