So I’ve been following the back and forth on Twitter about the ‘winner’ or ‘champion’ at IM Maryland—The Real Starky tweets a congrats to the Champs tweet and then follows up with that WTC won’t mention Champs or Winner—so what does ST say/think about this?? Seems a female pro differs in opinion with Real Starky and agrees with WTC that the ‘first person crossing the finish line’ isn’t the Champ or winner…
Matt is the winner of the race, end of story.
It was a mass start… so did they even get a finish banner.
Be a ironman champion as lost a lot of his lust and meaning in the recent years. Trevor Wurtele that himself won IMC in 2013 said it s not the same anymore. competition isn’t as strong as it use it. Too many races
and now with no pro field in many races, I m sure we will see a lot of abuse of the ‘‘ironman champion’’ title used by non pro athletes. it does become a bit of a issue when some sponsor/public cant make the difference. it devalue the accomplishement.
I think WTC is doing the right thing… or they will devalue there own brand…
You completely lost me. I see a guy named Matt Bach has the fastest time. Where is the doubt that he is the “winner” or “champion”?
Be a ironman champion as lost a lot of his lust and meaning in the recent years. Trevor Wurtele that himself won IMC in 2013 said it s not the same anymore. competition isn’t as strong as it use it. Too many races
and now with no pro field in many races, I m sure we will see a lot of abuse of the ‘‘ironman champion’’ title used by non pro athletes. it does become a bit of a issue when some sponsor/public cant make the difference. it devalue the accomplishement.
I think WTC is doing the right thing… or they will devalue there own brand…
All due respect Johnny but that is some interesting equivocating. Please explain the distinction between winner and champion.
The fastest time is the winner and the champion regardless of what WTC or some “pros” might think. This is where running has it right. If you enter a major marathon and win, without being a recognized “pro” then you are the champ and you take home the money. The artificially imposed requirement to hold an elite license to win is BS.
+1
.
perhaps I m not been clear/english/french…winner/champion all the same.
but to win a ironman(with pro field)…you need to put on a world class performance. The overall win at Maryland race was a excellent age group performance but there should be a mention on the title so anyone can make the distinction right away that this was a…
Ironman age group champion
or
Ironman age group winner
but there should be a difference so people can be aware that it wasn’t a full pro field win…
I appreciate the distinction you, as a pro, are trying to make but the definition of a champion is the winner of an event, regardless. Perhaps it can be qualified somewhat, but let me ask you this. At some third rare IM where the pro field is not any better then the top AG field, what is the difference? And the day will come, it already has in the women race, where an AG’er is first OA even with pro’s. I think the Champion is the winner regardless of how you or I may perceive the quality of the field.
It looks like they had already considered this when they made up the finish line tape.
It looks like they had already considered this when they made up the finish line tape.
…still laughing!
-1
See other sports. If not in the elite/open field than you are not the champ…
-1
See other sports. If not in the elite/open field than you are not the champ…
But does that assume there is a “professional” competition at the same venue? Honest question.
Jonnyo, who won the race?
Tremendous.
Brian, I m not a pro. I m a coach and age group athlete like you. I haven’t see any race were pro field on men side was weaker than age group field.
But I told right in my first post that pro racing had a problem already. The race were too weak… too ‘‘easy’’ to win. Now, for pros, it will be much better under the new structure.
I don’t pretend to have the perfect solution. But I think a distinction is needed so to give perspective on the true level of accomplishment.
Do you know the winner of Maryland?
I don’t know, look in the results??? I don’t know him
Brian, I m not a pro. I m a coach and age group athlete like you. I haven’t see any race were pro field on men side was weaker than age group field.
But I told right in my first post that pro racing had a problem already. The race were too weak… too ‘‘easy’’ to win. Now, for pros, it will be much better under the new structure.
I don’t pretend to have the perfect solution. But I think a distinction is needed so to give perspective on the true level of accomplishment.
Do you know the winner of Maryland?
He is a Team Zoot team member in the Northeast and I don’t think I have met him. And apologies, when I once met you back at IMAZ in 2009 I think it was you were a pro. I will still challenge your distinction about the true level of the accomplishment. Nothing was preventing a pro from showing up and winning this race beyond prize $, and the fact that some pros don’t win anything at races makes me feel there is no difference.
I respect your opinion and understand where you come from. I think the performance was studly… great age group fast time.
I still keep perspective on the level of it.
I just saw the finish tape. That is disgusting and classless of wtc. My point is to plug in the word age group in his title. Call him champ or winner as he deserve it
Ironman Maryland age group champion