Human Interest Group Athletes Rule at Worlds

The 2011 Ironman World Championship was an epic day to say the least.  There has been a lot of focus on Craig Alexander's course record-breaking day, but three other athletes under our management group showed amazing race form as well.   All in

all - HIG had 4 athletes in the big dance and came home with: 1) an overall win, 2) a course record, 3) a new bike course record*, 4) and 4^th place and an 8^th place finish.  No other management firm in the world has this many consistently clients turning in these kinds of performances on the world's largest triathlon stage. 

Luxembourgian, Dirk Bockel, continues to show that he is the real deal in Hawaii.  His 4^th place finish this year is his best in his 3 attempts and the former Olympian believes he has a lot yet to improve on.  New partners Blue Bicycles and Torhans Aero Hydration really stepped up and got behind Bockel this year and the support showed.  US based Bockel's next race is Ironman Florida in November.

Great Britain is certainly known for churning out some of the strongest athletes on two wheels.  4 x World Champion Julie Dibens is no exception.  Dibens had an outstanding year in 2011, winning prestige races such as: Abu Dhabi International, Ironman New Orleans 70.3, Rev3 Quassy, and Ironman Coeur d'Alene.  However, as many great athletes experience in their career, injury struck Julie shortly after her mid-season Ironman this year and plagued her through the World Championship season.  But as we have written here before, Dibens is as tough as they come.  She muscled through the training and showed up at the Ironman 70.3 World Champs as prepared as she could (at least on the swim and bike).  Unfortunately, while leading the race, Julie was forced to withdraw when her foot injury reared its ugly head on the hilly Las Vegas race course.   With only 4 weeks between 70.3 Worlds and Ironman Hawaii, Dibens did what she could to minimize any further damage to her foot, but maintained her fitness through swimming and biking.  The emphasis on these disciplines showed at the Ironman World Champs, where Julie led out of the water and then proceeded to tear the bike leg apart, breaking the course record and leading on the run before history repeated itself and she was forced to pull out when the foot injury flared up (*note bike record does not count unless one finishes the race).   After a flurry of Doctor visits, Julie has detected the injury (a broken metatarsal) and will be out for 6-8 weeks, but in good spirits and ready to return to Abu Dhabi next March for her attempt at a 3-peat!

HIG's newest Ironman specialist signing, Canadian Heather Wurtele, has quickly become one of the family and her results are fitting right in with her colleagues at The Human Interest Group.   With Ironman wins at St George and Lake Placid this year, Wurtele is no longer under anyone's radar.  Coming in to the Ironman World Championship's this year, Heather had a great build up with a 6^th place finish at the 70.3 Worlds in Vegas just 4 weeks prior to Hawaii.   The day proved to be brutal for many out there this year, but Wurtele came through the finish line with her trademark smile and a great attitude about what she can do next year to take it to the next level. 

For more information on strategic partnerships or on-the-ground activation with any of these world-class athletes, please contact HIG here