They had different fates yesterday at Ironman Brasil. The two of them I met just last March, and I want to saw something about them.
One of them is just a class act. He signifies a lot of what triathlon is for me, an individual pursuit. He is humble and funny and I can’t think of anyone that deserves more to be out there winning Ironman races. His name is Olaf Sabatschus.
The other is my friend. He loves this sport in a way that very few people do. And only those few people and the ones that are close to him can understand what it is to be in his shoes. The rest can’t even imagine what it is like to be this amazing person and athlete. His name is Francois Modave.
Congratulations Olaf. As Paulo said, you deserve it!
Francois, I can only wish a better luck next time. And hope that at least, you had some fun during your stay in Brazil!
And don’t give up, I still want to see you in Hawaii later this year!
Remember you still have some more Portuguese to learn…
Well said SAC…this forum is a better place for the prescence of Francois. Met Olaf briefly at IMC last year (he wouldn’t remember me) and he is a class act!
I can’t help but laugh after confessing my dirty secret that I believe Francois and Olaf are more than just friends. This really sounds like the best man giving a toast at a wedding. “These two triathletes, one French, one German, met at a race and have been inseperable ever since…”
In all seriousness, congratulations to Olaf on winning, and better luck to Francois next time.
I look forward to meeting both of them in El Paso, provided they promise not to hold my strange beliefs against me leaving me buried up to my neck in the sand in the middle of the desert for the vultures to eat… Oops, maybe it was bad to even give them the idea…
i think a lot of people forget that francois has proven himself at the ironman distance more than once. didnt he go in the 9:30s at Roth a few times. nothing shabby about that!!!
I have had the opportunity to meet Olaf, Francois, Tom Evans and a skinny young kid named Sergio Marques. They just don’t get any better, talent or or just plain people, than that foursome.
I was fortunate enough to meet Francois and Olaf in Arizona this past Spring, and while I can’t say that I know either of them particularly well, I can say that I am richer for having met them. As ambassadors for the sport, one really couldn’t ask for more than what these two fine gentlemen represent.
