The Biathle World Championship took place on Sunday 20th September on and around Larvotto Beach in Monaco. In perfect conditions and under the gaze of His Serene Highness Prince Albert of Monaco over 330 athletes took part in this little known, but quickly growing sport. Competitors ranged from the very young under-10's in the Youth E section to the over 60’s in the masters classes.

The Biathle is a run, swim, run event designed to be an easy introduction to the more demanding Olympic sport of Modern Pentathlon (Fence, Swim, Ride, Shoot, Run). It is a fast, exciting, spectacle with rapid changeovers between the disciplines, in similar way to triathlon. The Senior course consists of a 1500 meter run, 200 meter sea swim, and then 1500 meter run to finish, with the junior distances reducing with the size of the competitors.

Now you may be thinking that a little jog, followed by a dip in the sea and then another run to dry off sounds too easy. But watching the speed of the competitors completing the opening run, going flat out for a metric mile, reminded me that these athletes deserved to be at the World Championships, and I deserved to remain a spectator!

Following the lung bursting run, comes the swim, already tired competitors whip off their trainers and swim 100 meters out to sea and back. It made me feel tired just to watch, but you could see as the swimmers emerged from the sea and scrambled onto shore that it was really hurting them. Then it’s on with trainers, no mean feat when exhausted and wet, and another 1500 meters to finish.

Doesn’t sound so easy now does it! I think a measure of the pain involved was demonstrated best when Ironman Triathlete James Kimberley (who has qualified for the Ironman Triathlon World Championships) gave the universal ‘wince and suck-through-the-teeth’ just thinking about it! Speaking of Sporting Family Johnson, the reason for my interest is, of course, the return to the fold of my wife Michelle (Kimberley). Five years, and two children, after her last outing in the World Championships, and with only a months preparation, Michelle joined the British Team for the senior women’s event. She did amazingly well, finishing eighth, only three places below her best ever, and making everyone so proud.

The British team as a whole had a good day out, as did the Italians who won three of the last four events. The World Championships go to Dubai next year, but return to Monaco the year after, so don’t count out a last fling for Super Mum Michelle. The FR2DAY photographer was on hand all day, so take a look at some of the great pictures.

If you are featured or know anyone in any of these photos then please let us know so we can add the names

For more results and information GOOGLE on down to the Pentathlon website from here

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