Thousands of athletes and spectators descended on the St. Petersburg waterfront this morning for the St. Anthony's Triathlon.
One of the biggest events of its kind in the area, the triathlon has professional, elite amateur, amateur and notice divisions. There were even Clydesdale and Athenia divisions for men and women over 220 and 165 pounds, respectively.
Triathlons combine running (10 kilometers), biking (40K) and swimming and 1.5K) into a single athletic event.
Rue Morgan, who turns 72 this year, and his 13-year-old granddaughter Kyah were living proof that any age is quilified to take part.
The too wrote their ages on the back of their calves to be visible to anyone running behind them as they crossed the finish line.
“It’s really fun," said Kyah Morgan. "And it’s just like, it’s competition but it’s still fun.”
It’s fun and hard work her grandfather says was mostly her idea.
“A lot of people ask me if I push Kyah into the sport," Rue Morgan said. "No because one time when she was about three or four, I went and did a triathlon and she said, you left me. So I didn’t leave her anymore.”
Triple amputee Rajesh Durbal competed in the race on Sunday while wearing specially made prosthetics.
“These are my blades," said Durbal. "They’re my running legs.
"They’re high elevation vacuum, so they suction on to me so I can run as hard as I want to, so I cannot have the piercing inside of the leg. Then I have a pair of legs for cycling, and a pair for everyday a pair for the beach. I have a pair for every situation like women have shoes.”
The pair he wore at this year’s competition brought him across the finish line.
This year’s winner was Rudi Wild from Switzerland.