4 Aug 2009

Freak injury cripples New Zealand Ironman competitor

10:33 am on 4 August 2009

A freakish injury has ruled out the experienced New Zealand Ironman competitor Bryan Rhodes for the best part of a year.

Rhode won't be able to defend his Ironman Canada title or compete at this year's Ironman World Championships in Hawaii after rupturing an Achilles tendon in the swim leg of the Steelhead half Ironman in Michigan.

He says another competitor either stood on or grabbed his heel as he was running into the water,

He felt the tendon snap but thought it was cramp and didn't realise the extent of the injury until he tried to stand up after finishing the swim.

The only option is surgery and Rhodes is returning to New Zealand for an operation and physiotherapy.