By Brendan John Worrell (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-04-21 07:26

HAIKOU, HAINAN province: Germany's Olaf Sabatschus and Australia's Belinda Granger emerged as the winners of the inaugural Ironman China yesterday in the city of Haikou, south China's Hainan province.

Sabatschus was the first male champion of the tournament, consisting of 3.8km swimming, 180km cycling and 42.2km running. He crossed the finishing line to thunderous applause in a time of 8 hours 52 minutes 14 seconds.

It is the third Ironman title for Sabatschus, with today's win in Haikou possibly the hardest earned.

South Korea's Park Byung-hoon took second place, followed seconds later by an exhausted Tim Marr of the US.

In the women's competition, Granger continued her amazing 2008 form and claimed the title in a time of 10:08:37. It's Granger's seventh Ironman career win, her second this year.

It was a great finish to an event that a day earlier was under threat thanks to Typhoon Neoguri. But by late Saturday afternoon the skies cleared and fresh rains brought much-needed moisture to athletes battling under a 32 C sun.

According to Haikou's vice mayor Liu Qingsheng, Ironman China "improves the reputation and influence of Haikou in the international community, promoting not only sport but culture and tourism".

Ironman China is one of three Asian qualifying triathlons leading up to the annual championship event that takes place in Kona, Hawaii. Prize money for the Haikou event was $50,000 with plans to make it an annual event on the International Ironman circuit.

(China Daily 04/21/2008 page11)