TEAM GARWOOD

IRONMAN IN A DOUBLE PACK

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15-year-old South African Nicholas Garwood has cerebral palsy with spasticity. And a daddy who can't think of anything better than doing triathlon sports with his son at PINO — preferably at Ironman events. We saw Team Garwood at Ironman South Africa in 2014.

Nikki sits in the front seat of the PINO, the team Garwood jersey fluttering in the wind. He beams and rows enthusiastically with his arms: “Go, Dad, go! ” he shouts. Anyone who experiences Nikki — as we did during our visit to South Africa — gets an idea of how huge this boy's energy supply is. And how much motivation such a person can bring to a team. In contrast to the more level-headed father Kevin, Nikki has an unreservedly emotional nature that takes everyone in for him. Contagious zest for life. Against this background, his handicap is secondary. It comes from an undersupply of oxygen to his brain in the womb. The mental development and coordination of the arms and legs are limited, but Nikki can speak and read... and can control his iPad while sleeping.

Even when Nicholas was three years old, Kevin, who is now 51 and devilishly fit, had given up his job. He wanted to spend more time with his son. Father and son became inseparable. Still, something was missing. “I always wanted to be able to do sports together with Nikki,” says Kevin. “But how? “His pastor's wife sent him a video showing an American playing triathlon with his disabled son. “That was a revelation! I asked Nikki if he wanted to do that with me.” “And if I wanted to! “He was on fire. And father and son formed a team.

Kevin started working out. Without much success at first. It went upwards with a big jogger for Nikki, which can also be used as a bike trailer. That's how they were together in space — and the motivation Nikki brought along was tremendous. For the bike route, the trailer was only a makeshift solution.

But the two stick to it. The first short-distance duathlons (running and cycling) and triathlons (running, cycling and swimming) are completed. But the goal is more ambitious: Ironman triathlons.

“It's only since I found PINO that we've become a real team on the bike, too,” radiates Kevin. “The bike is perfect for us: We can safely store Nikki's feet here, we both have panoramic views and can talk to each other without effort while riding. I can even feed him when he needs something to eat. ”

In 2012, they took part in Ironman South Africa for the first time — unlucky in the weather: Due to strong winds, they were not allowed on the bike track. But that didn't scare them off. In 2013, they took part in Ironman South Africa again and reached the finish line to cheering applause from the spectators.

3.7 kilometers of swimming in the Indian Ocean, 180 kilometers of cycling, 42.195 kilometers of running are on the program this April 6, 2014. 6:45 a.m.: Nikki's kayak is released into the water to shouts of enthusiasm. 7:00 a.m.: Swimmers start. Kevin hangs his pull rope on his waist belt and starts crawling. A red kayak meanders through thousands of swimmers. He attaches himself to fast groups, overtakes, orientates himself towards the next. With 1:15 hours, the two get a fantastic time out of the water.

His mother Cheryl helps with the move, Nikki is put on PINO, food for the two of them, let's go! A fully staffed tandem with road bike wheels has twice the system weight of single riders with Tria machines. The headwind is extremely strong in some cases. But Team Garwood is fighting. “Go, Dad, go! “Nikki is in full swing and is getting Kevin up to speed more and more. Two long climbs per lap (90 kilometers) require too much time. “They need to catch up! “Cheryl shouts to us as we meet her on the track.

We're cheering for the team. Nikki and Kevin give it their all again. But it's not enough: At 9:10 hours, they have a time out of ten minutes — they are taken out of the race. Kevin takes it easy on the outside, Nikki doesn't. He cries heavily and is barely comforted by his parents.

Still: “They both won again! “The commentator on the race, who had already referred to Team Garwood at the start of the race, also knows. They have been real irons for a long time: in terms of team spirit and as an example of what community can create — whether with or without a handicap.

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