TRIATHLON
SPORTS
TRIATHLON
Doctor first in
Cecill Hills ' Fortus conquers Sprint Triathlon in Cavite
By VIOLI CALVERT
RAFAEL Lorenzo Fortus , of Cecil Hills in Western Sydney , conquered the Vermosa Sprint Triathlon in Cavite , Philippines on August 12 , 2018 . This involved an 800m swim , 20km cycle ride , and 5km run which he finished in 1h 12min . What makes Fortus different from the other competitors in this triathlon is that he is a practising doctor of medicine . " Triathlon and medicine can often pull me in different directions ,” he says . “ But the lessons are the same - eat well to feel well , exercise when you can , and find enjoyment by sharing your passion and challenges with others . “ This was my first triathlon in the Philippines and my first win . Fortus has completed 50 triathlons , from shorter sprint distances to a half-Ironman in 2009 .
His first sport was swimming , which he enjoyed as a young child . “ I competed at my first nationals competition at age 12 , a 5km open water event at Penrith , the future rowing venue for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games ,” Fortus says . “ I placed in the top 10 , and competed again during high school ." Fortus received a full scholarship at Trinity Grammar School , a boys boarding school in Summer Hill , Sydney .
Looking forward to World Triahlon 2018
There he expanded his experiences to music , learned to play the trombone , abd joined the cadet army corps as an officer . “ The school ’ s swimming facilities and program were excellent ,” he says . “ Under strict coaches and twice-daily training , we won the state championship for the first time in 2004 . “ Our school then won another 13 times , the longest winning streak in its 105-year history . Fortus took up triathlon while at medical school , in Adelaide . " The Philippines triathlon was a personal competition , but at the International Triathlon Union ( ITU ) 2018 World Triathlon to be hosted between on September 12-16 on the Gold Coast , Queensland , I will be representing Australia ,” he says . More than 5,000 of the world ’ s best elite and age group triathletes will take part . Fortus completed Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree at Sydney University and a Doctor of Medicine at Flinders University in Adelaide . • RAFAEL LORENZO FORTUS at the Triathlon finish line in Cavite .
16 SEPTEMBER AUGUST 2018 2018 | AK NewsMagazine , Vol 8 No 11 www . kalatas . com . au