In the 2018 Chengde Tangjiawan International Triathlon open, Wang Zhipeng won the champion of the age group.
Xinhua News Agency, Harbin, August 21st Question: live to the old “Iron”
Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Kai
60-year-old Wang Zhipeng likes to be called “Champion Iron Man”.
At 4 o’clock in the morning, there were few vehicles on the road leading to Wuchang city in Harbin city. Only Wang Zhipeng rode a road bike breaking wind to move forward. He changed the gear from time to time and sometimes leaned over and sprinted downhill, sometimes I got up and pedaled uphill, and the 60-kilometer training was soon completed.
This is only part of his daily training, followed by more than 10 kilometers of running and about 1 kilometer of swimming in the afternoon.
In 1990, Wang Zhipeng took part in the first triathlon competition in his life. Among the 500 athletes regardless of age group, he got the 80th place.
“From then on, I wanted to be a real ‘Iron Man’,” Wang Zhipeng said. For decades, he spent more than 100,000 yuan on his favorite bicycle, and he could circle the standard stadium half by using a waste tire. Before retirement, I often ran and rode at 4 o’clock in the morning, and went swimming without eating even after work. He said: “I always want to realize my dream one day.”
Wang Zhipeng’s dream was realized in the Suizhong East Daihe station of China Triathlon League in 2016. He won the championship in the 55-59-year-old group with a score of 2 hours, 27 minutes and 11 seconds 98.
This result is even faster than many young people in their twenties.
“I didn’t understand the tears of the players on the podium before, but I didn’t hold back when I stood on the podium, and my years of hard training paid off.” Wang Zhipeng said.
In December of the same year, in the world triathlon competition (IRONMAN70.3) in Xiamen, after 1.9 kilometers of swimming, 90 kilometers of cycling and a half marathon, wang Zhipeng stood out from 3400 players, won the third place in the age group, and got the quota of the World Triathlon (IRONMAN70.3) held in the United States.
After retirement, the 60-year-old “Iron Man” trained harder. In the 2018 Chengde Tangjiawan International Triathlon open, Wang Zhipeng won the champion of the age group.
Driven by Wang Zhipeng, the triathlon sport, which used to be very small, was loved and participated by more and more Harbin people. Even his daughter Wang Yulei was influenced by him, from a swimmer to later, he gradually fell in love with this sport and became the national champion of triathlon.
On June 18, 2017, Wang Yulei won the national championship for the first time in the Beidaihe triathlon, which happened to be Father’s Day.
“This is my most precious Father’s Day gift,” Wang Zhipeng said.
“Triathlon brings me health, happiness and confidence. If I can live to be 100 years old, then I will continue to” hit the iron “to 100 years old!” Wang Zhipeng said.