Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 117, April 2019 | Page 38

MULTISPORT
T
he story of Team Hoyt is well known in triathlon
circles, about American father Dick Hoyt
pushing, pulling and carrying his adult son Rick
through endurance events such as marathons and full
Ironman triathlons. Rick was diagnosed with cerebral
palsey at birth, and while doctors recommended that
his parents institutionalise him, they chose to treat
him like a normal child, persisted with his education
and he eventually graduated university with a degree
in special education. The videos of Team Hoyt
participating in various events have gone viral, and are
guaranteed tear-jerkers.
Go Team
!
n
a
m
t
Ba
Marc Kourie and Rory Whitecross have come a long way since their first attempt
in 2017 at completing the Standard Bank Ironman 70.3 Durban. It was only in
their second attempt in 2018 that ‘Team Batman’ was able to claw their way over
the finish line, and they hope their story will inspire more disabled athletes to
participate in mainstream events, and for these events to give more support to
these athletes. – BY MANFRED SEIDLER & SEAN FALCONER
Now there is Team Batman, an intrepid South African
duo consisting of Marc Kourie and Rory Whitecross,
who are also participating in triathlons and raising
awareness of disabled participation in sport. In 2017
they took on the Standard Bank Ironman 70.3 Durban
triathlon together, and while they didn’t finish, missing
the cut-off on the bike leg, they were back again in
2018 to try again. This time they made it, but Marc
explains that they had to get special permission to
participate.
“We had to write a detailed motivational letter to
Paul Wolff, organiser of the Ironman events. We did
not finish in 2017, and Paul wanted a guarantee that
we could do this. Also, Rory had been tested in the
medical tent after the 2017 race, and it was found that
his blood pressure was high. So when we asked Paul
if we could enter again, he wanted assurances that
we would be OK to do this. We also had to have done
three swims, some cycle races and some runs, all
quite understandable.”
Getting the Job Done
With their entries confirmed, the training done and
health checks handled, Team Batman lined up for
the event. For the swim, Marc wore strapping over
his shoulders that was attached to the front of an
inflatable boat to tow Rory, who was seated in the
boat and wearing a life jacket. On the bike, Rory was
able to lend Marc some help, but they still came close
to missing the cut-off. For the last part of the race,
Marc pushed Rory in a running wheelchair.
Team Batman completed the swim leg in 40:36, the
bike in 4:12:59, and the run in 2:21:34, for an overall
finish time of 7:35:09, but Marc admits it was close.
“I honestly thought we would not make it, again, as
we were behind time on the cycle leg, and I was really
struggling. Had it not been for a few ladies along the
side of the road who cheered crazily for us, I don’t
think we would have made it. Leading up to the event,
the name ‘Team Batman’ was all over social media,
and the support certainly did make a difference on
race day, given what happened in 2017. Also, the
crowd was just incredible as we came into the finish.”
Newfound Friendship
The story begins in 2004, when a car crash left Marc’s
uncle, Garth Munro, completely paralysed. Being an
Ironman African Championship and two-time Ironman
70.3 Durban finisher, Marc was inspired by the story
of Team Hoyt and wanted to take on the Ironman with
his paralysed uncle. Unfortunately, the severity of his
uncle’s condition just wouldn’t allow for Marc’s dream
to become a reality, but then he was asked to cycle
the 94.7 Cycle Challenge with a chariot in 2016, and
that’s where he met Rory.
“We met through the rehab practice my uncle was
affiliated to. Justin Jeffrey is head of the practice and
he runs the charity called Trojan Neurological Trust, or
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ISSUE 117 APRIL 2019 / www.modernathlete.co.za