Highlights from the 2014 Abu Dhabi International Triathlon

Gulf News

Highlights of the 5th Abu Dhabi International Triathlon on Saturday March 15th at the cornice. Daily headlines from the UAE and around the world brought to you by Gulf News. See more at: http://gulfnews.com/gntv

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00:00Over 2,300 athletes representing 79 nationalities test their endurance in the nation's capital

00:28for the 5th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon.

00:31The competition began with a swim in the waters off of the Corniche, then on to a bike stage

00:35which took the athletes across Saadiyat and Yas Island and finished with a grueling run

00:39under the midday sun.

00:41All levels of athlete attended the event, from Olympic medalists to amateurs competing

00:45for the first time.

00:46It's amazing, but for me it's the first time so I'm a little bit nervous and I have no

00:54idea where is the point I should turn because I will do only 5km but for me it's a challenge.

01:04This was the jewel of the Middle East when it comes to triathlon and events.

01:11I am so proud to be from the Middle East, I think this was something to be very proud

01:15of if you're an Arab, if you're in a Marathi, if you're from Abu Dhabi.

01:19I relocated here about 4 months ago to train here now in the winter and the facilities

01:24here are unbelievable, but the crowd, the ambiance was just spectacular.

01:29The last 3km I was floating on the crowd's shoulders, people were dying out there, it's

01:35hot and they're screaming, go Omar, this doesn't happen anywhere else in the world.

01:40People don't realize how motivating that is.

01:43This year the new course was impeccable, 2,400 and it felt empty.

01:48So the quality of the event was just really, really, really high and I think that's why

01:55people come over and over, they like the race, it's a fast race, it's a hard race and it's

02:01something that pushes you to the limit no matter who you are.

02:04The bike course was fast so you sort of really went for the bike and obviously with the run

02:08and the heat it just got you a little bit towards the end.

02:11But finished, fourth time now so come back next year baby.

02:19At the end of the day, 1,884 athletes were able to overcome all the hardships to finish

02:25the race.

02:26Logan Fish for Golf News.

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