Final pacemakers for Sub7 and Sub8 Project announced
The Pho3nix Foundation has revealed the remaining pacemakers selected by Alistair Brownlee, Kristian Blummenfelt, Nicola Spirig, and Kat Matthews for the Pho3nix Sub7 and Sub8 Project
The four athletes taking on the much-anticipated Sub7 and Sub8 Project in just over a week’s time have announced their final pacemakers for the epic challenge.
Alistair Brownlee, Kristian Blummenfelt, Nicola Spirig and Kat Mathews announced their cycling pacemakers last week, and have now revealed who will be joining them for the swim and run to help measure effort, conserve energy and control pace.
- Kat Matthews and Nicola Spirig announce bike pacers for Sub8 attempt
- Brownlee and Blummenfelt announce pacers for Sub7 challenge
Who are Nicola Spirig’s pacemakers?
Nicola Spirig introduced these two athletes in her episode of the Road to Sub7 and Sub8 mini-documentary series: two-time marathon swimming world champion and International Marathon Swimming Hall of Famer Angela Maurer as her swim pacemaker, and Swiss marathon national record holder Maja Neuenschwander as her run pacemaker.
Spirig says of Maurer: “Only one pacemaker for the swim leg but it will be a world champion in 25km open-water swimming. She is perfect in swimming, she is perfect in sighting the buoys, she will be perfect for guiding me and giving me some draft.”
Neuenschwander is a former training mate. Spirig continues, “I was running with her in my first races in 1998, junior cross-country European championships. And she was Swiss record holder in the marathon and was at the London Olympics.”
Who are Kat Mathew’s pacemakers?
Kat Matthews already has a number of her cycling pacemakers pulling double duty as swim and run pacemakers. For additional firepower, she has selected South African triathlete Sarah-Jane Walker to be a swim and run pacemaker and British ultrarunner and Army triathlete Nerys Jones as run pacemaker.
“I know Kat as a fellow army triathlon team member,” says Jones. “I have followed Kat since day one and I love her approach to training. I’m totally amazed by what she can do and I am incredibly inspired by her.
“I think she is capable of anything. I’m super excited to be part of her Sub8 Project and her amazing team. I’m 100% committed to pacing her on the run and be there to support her on whatever strategy she will take.”
Who are Alistair Brownlee’s pacemakers?
Alistair Brownlee has recruited his younger brother, triple Olympic medallist Jonathan Brownlee as well as four-time aquathlon world champion and former training partner Richard Varga to pace him on the swim and run. British marathoner and physician Phil Sesemann rounds out his run pacemaker team.
The younger Brownlee says, “We have obviously trained together since I can remember and raced against each other on some of the biggest days our sport has seen. This is a totally new challenge, and another opportunity to do something as a first in the sport of triathlon.
“Alistair has never shied away from a challenge and I’ll support him as best I can. I’m pleased it’s only on the swim and the run, though!”
Who are Kristian Blummenfelt’s pacemakers?
Kristian Blummenfelt will be paced on the swim by seven-time Dutch national long-distance swimming champion Lars Bottelier, and on the run by Kenyan marathoner Barnaba Kipkoech who has run a best time of 2:09:12. On standby he has another Kenyan runner, Lani Rutto with a PB of 2:06:34.
“I’m very much looking forward to helping the Olympic champion create history,” says Kipkoech. “This project reminds me of what my countryman Eliud Kipchoge achieved with Breaking 2.
“Yes the pace is a lot slower than our normal racing pace but that is not important. What matters is providing Kristian with the best pacing strategy he needs to achieve his goal. It is very important to keep the pace consistent and let Kristian settle into a nice rhythm on the run.”
As the pieces of the Sub7 and Sub8 puzzle continue to come together, expect more details to be revealed about each athlete’s strategy in using their pacemakers, their respective pace targets, and the breakthrough technology they have in their arsenal.
Top image: Donald Miralle/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images
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