Triathlete Omar Paredes becomes first Filipino finisher of World’s Toughest Triathlon

Here’s yet another feat for the Philippines in the world sports industry — Filipino triathlete Omar Paredes became the first Filipino finisher of the Isklar Norseman Extreme Triathlon held in Eidjford, Norway.

 

LAARNI AND OMAR PAREDES holding the much coveted black shirt at the Norseman triathlon

 

Paredes, who works as a coach of the Herbalife triathlon team in the Philippines, was the first Filipino to join the said triathlon and also the first to get the much-coveted black shirt awarded to the first 160 athletes to arrive at the finish line. In a press conference held at the Museum Café in Makati, Paredes narrated his story on how he was able to compete in the acclaimed toughest triathlon race in the world. “It was my wife (Laarni Paredes, award-winning triathlete) who got me into joining the event. Since the process of getting in was through a lottery, I luckily got in,” said Paredes.

 

Members of the press ask questions to triathlete Omar Paredes

 

Paredes also told his journey to finishing the race. “The race was brutal. It was really difficult because there were many problems such as acclimatization. There were hikes to “mountains of rocks,” the swim was also tough; I had no choice but to step forward,” said the tearful Paredes. On the other hand, Laarni expressed how proud she was of her husband, even describing how “life-changing” the race was to both of them as athletes.

 

Press conference at the Museum Cafe

 

Finishing the race in 16 hours while waving the Philippine flag, Paredes felt proud of his achievement. He also thanks his friends, and all his sponsors who helped him in this victory. As an advice to aspiring traithletes to join the competition, “train hard and respect the distance because this is not an ordinary race,” he added.

The Norseman Triathlon is the point to point unsupported race held in Norway every year. Competitors start to swim first through the Hardangerfjord to Eidjford, Norway, then transition to bikes for 180 km through the mountains, then run 42.2 km from flat to a local mountain. The race started in 2003, considered the “most extreme ultimate triathlon of the planet” joined by hardcore triathletes.