Craig Alexander to compete in Laguna Phuket Ironman 70.3 event

PHUKET: The world’s most successful Ironman athlete of recent years, Australian Craig Alexander will contest the Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship at Laguna Phuket on December 5.

Alexander is the latest addition to a stellar line-up of elite professional triathletes heading to the island.

As Ironman World Champion for the past two years, Alexander is set to face-off against fellow Ironman 70.3 world champion Michael Raelert of Germany and a host of top pros including five-time Ironman champion Luke McKenzie of Australia, Italian Massimo Cigana, Tim O’Donnell of the USA and Paul Amey of Great Britain.

One of the most respected triathletes amongst his peers and a favorite of fans worldwide, Alexander – known to many as “Crowie” – has proven himself the most versatile swimmer, runner and biker across all distances of triathlon.

His back-to-back victories in the grueling Hawaiian Ironman put him in the elite company of only three others who have won the Ironman World Championship two years in a row.

Winner of the Laguna Phuket Triathlon (LPT) in 2002 and 2004, Alexander is relishing a return to the island to compete for the US$75,000 Ironman 70.3 prize purse.

“I am really looking forward to returning to Phuket after a few years away to race the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship,” he said.

“This will certainly be a unique race in an amazing country.”

The Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship will be contested at Laguna Phuket just a week after the 17th Laguna Phuket Triathlon on November 28.

The Phuket Ironman 70.3 course has a 1.9 kilometer swim, an extended 90km bike ride and a 21.1km run.

For further information visit: www. lagunaphukettriathlon.com or www. ironmanphuket.com