Lionel Sanders

Last updated
Lionel Sanders
Lionel sanders mont tremblant 70.3 2018.png
Sanders at Mont Tremblant 70.3 2018
Personal information
Full nameLionel James Sanders
Born (1988-02-22) 22 February 1988 (age 36) [1]
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) [1]
Weight72 kg (159 lb) [2]
Sport
Country Canada
Sport Triathlon
Turned pro2013
Medal record
Men's Triathlon
Representing Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Ironman World Championship
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2017 Individual
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2021 Individual
ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2017 Individual

Lionel James Sanders (born February 22, 1988) is a Canadian professional triathlete winner of the 2017 ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships. In 2017 and 2021, he also placed second at the Ironman World Championship. [3] [4] In 2014 he placed fourth in the 2014 Ironman 70.3 World Championship held in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec. [5] Sanders's first professional race was in September 2013 at the Muskoka Ironman 70.3, [6] where he took 1st place over Andreas Raelert.

Contents

Career

Born in Windsor, Ontario, Sanders attended the University of Windsor, and later transferred to McMaster University in Hamilton where he ran for the cross-country running team. [7]

In 2013 Sanders began to race local Ontario Multisport Canada triathlons. Sanders officially began his professional triathlete career in September when he continued his win streak by taking first place in 70.3 Muskoka.[ citation needed ] The following year Sanders went on to have a successful 2014 Ironman 70.3 season with notable wins at the Ironman 70.3 races in Muncie, Racine and Steelhead. [8] After his 4th-place finish at the 2014 Ironman 70.3 World Championships Sanders finished his first Ironman distance race as a professional at Ironman Florida on November 1, 2014; an event he won. In that race, the swim was cancelled due to poor conditions. [9]

Sanders had a string of 70.3 victories in 2015, combined with some learning experiences at the Ironman distance. At Ironman Texas Sanders struggled under the oppressive heat & humid conditions, fading on the run and taking a fourth. At Ironman Mont Tremblant Sanders had a disappointing performance, finishing fifth. This was Sanders's first time competing at the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii where he finished 14th. Sanders went on to Ironman Arizona finishing with a time under 8 hours to take his first official full distance victory (a year before he won Ironman Florida, however the swim was cancelled).[ citation needed ]

On November 20, 2016, Sanders set a new world record for the full distance triathlon at Ironman Arizona, with a winning time of 7:44:29. The previous record, held by Marino Vanhoenacker, had stood for five years.[ citation needed ] Sanders' 2016 Record was broken by Tim Don in 2017 Edition of Ironman Brazil in Florianopolis. [10]

In 2017, Sanders won ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships in Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. Sander's won all but one 70.3 race that he entered, the exception being 70.3 St. George, where he finished second to Alistair Brownlee. [11] Sanders led the Ironman World Championship in Kona Hawaii through mile 23 of the marathon before being passed by Patrick Lange. Lionel would hold on to finish second. [12] In 2018 Sanders continued his success, winning most of his races, except Oceanside 70.3, which he lost to Jan Frodeno. In June, he won Challenge Family "The Championship" again against Sebastian Kienle in a time of 3:44 before winning Mont-Tremblant 70.3.[ citation needed ] In full distance racing, Sanders placed 2nd at Ironman Mont-Tremblant and 29th at the Ironman World Championships.

Record attempts

On October 23, 2020, Sanders broke the Canadian national hour record with a distance of 51.304 kilometres. [13]

On the 18th of July 2021 Lionel Sanders joined Jan Frodeno in Allgäu, Germany trying to beat the long-distance world record in triathlon. This was a 3.8 km swim, 180 km bike and 42.2 km run. Frodeno broke his own record while Sanders came within eight minutes of the old record while also setting two personal best splits with the swim and the bike. His results were: 50:59 – 4:00:26 – 2:50:31 with a final time of 7:43:28. [14] [15]

Personal

Sanders has been public about the substance abuse problem that eventually led him to sign up for the 2010 Ironman Louisville in late 2009. [16] He finished in a time of 10:14:31. [17] The Hamilton Spectator wrote an in-depth article detailing his substance abuse past and how he will be telling this story for the rest of his life. He was quoted as saying, "I want to prove to anyone who has ever battled addiction that not only can you beat it, but you can turn yourself into something great in the process." [18]

Sanders is married to Erin Macdonald.[ citation needed ]

Race history

2013

DateRaceDistancesTimeRank
May 11, 2013IronHawk Duathlon5k - 30k - 5k1:20:371st
May 26, 2013Caledon Sprint Triathlon400m - 15k - 5k49:491st
June 2, 2013Ontario Duathlon Champs10k - 40k - 5k1:44:091st
June 8, 2013MSC Binbook Triathlon750m - 30k - 7.5k1:20:271st
June 16, 2013Ontario Sprint Tri Champs750m - 20k - 5k57:211st
June 22, 2013MSC Welland Triathlon750m 30k - 7.5k1:19:081st
July 6, 2013MSC Huronia Triathlon1500m - 40k - 10k1:58:481st
July 13, 2013MSC Gravenhurst Triathlon1500m - 40k - 10k1:59:021st
July 21, 2013Canadian AG Nat.Tri Champs1500m - 40k - 10k1:50:541st
Aug 11th 2013Windsor Triathlon800m - 32k - 6k1:14:401st
Sept 8th 2013Muskoka Ironman 70.32k - 94k -21.1k4:01:201st

2014

DateRaceDistancesSwimBikeRunTotalRank
April 6, 2014Texas 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k27:382:13:361:12:083:56:1910th
May 3, 2014St. George 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:582:12:401:12:183:55:0718th
May 10, 2014Ontario Sprint Duathlon Champs750m - 20k - 5k56:001st
May 25, 2014Woodstock Sprint Triathlon750m - 20k - 5k11:1429:1115:5857:331st
June 1, 2014Raleigh 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k27:342:12:511:09:563:52:472nd
June 7, 2014Binbrook Long-Sprint Triathlon750m - 30k - 7.5k11:0242:5324:471:19:391st
June 22, 2014Syracuse 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:282:16:271:09:543:55:432nd
July 6, 2014Ontario Sprint Tri Champs750m - 20k - 5k58:151st
July 12, 2014Muncie 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:312:02:201:10:543:42:481st
July 20, 2014Racine 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k27:412:05:171:09:363:45:551st
July 27, 2014Bala Falls Long-Sprint Triathlon750m - 30k - 7.5k10:2440:5525:521:18:261st
Aug. 10th 2014Steelhead 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k29:422:00:411:12:363:46:131st
Sept. 7th 201470.3 World Championship1.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:422:04:141:11:213:46:034th
Sept. 13th 2014Lakeside Sprint750m - 20k - 5k10:5227:4616:2456:201st
Sept. 21st 2014Ontario Long Course Champs1.9k - 92.8k - 21.1k28:452:01:261:11:353:44:551st
Nov. 1st 2014Ironman Florida180k - 42.2k4:12:462:44:126:58:461st

2015

DateRaceDistancesSwimBikeRunTotalRank
March 28, 2015Oceanside 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:592:04:461:13:123:49:193rd
April 26, 2015Galveston 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k28:232:02:251:12:203:45:391st
May 9, 2015Ironhawk Duathlon5k - 20k - 2.5k15:4627:297:5752:141st
May 16, 2015Ironman Texas3.8k - 180k - 42.2k57:194:11:253:11:228:24:544th
June 14, 2015Leamington Sprint Tri750m - 20k - 5k10:3326:2316:1654:431st
June 21, 2015Mont Tremblant 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:582:03:211:11:143:45:381st
July 5, 2015Muskoka 70.31.9k - 94k - 21.1k27:502:16:081:15:394:02:541st
July 19, 2015Racine 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:212:03:531:15:463:49:411st
Aug 9th 2015Tecumseh Triathlon800m - 32k - 6k13:0140:4021:531:16:351st
Aug 16th 2015Ironman Mont Tremblant3.8k - 180k - 42.2k56:274:40:323:00:378:42:135th
Oct 10th 2015 Ironman World Championship 3.8k - 180k - 42.2k1:01:104:35:172:54:418:36:2614th
Nov 15th 2015Ironman Arizona3.8k - 180k - 42.2k54:044:13:382:47:077:58:221st

2016

DateRaceDistancesSwimBikeRunTotalRank
Jan 31st 2016Panama 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k24:351:55:031:14:483:38:531st
April 2, 2016Oceanside 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:332:07:471:11:423:51:171st
April 10, 2016Texas 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:571:58:091:13:093:40:301st
May 7, 2016St. George 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k27:392:03:571:13:303:48:181st
June 26, 2016Mont Tremblant 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:172:02:291:15:063:47:311st
July 17, 2016Racine 70.3N/A - 50k - 21.1kN/A1:02:481:17:152:20:572nd
Aug 7th 2016Tecumseh Triathlon800m - 32k - 6k15:0742:4221:471:20:491st
Aug 14th 2016Wiesbaden 70.31.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:132:20:391:09:204:00:232nd
Sept 4th 201670.3 World Championship1.9k - 90k - 21.1k25:412:06:421:10:343:47:149th
Oct 8th 2016 Ironman World Championship 3.8k - 180k - 42.2k56:414:26:353:17:018:44:4929th
Oct 28-30th 2016 Island House Invitational Multiple RacesN/AN/AN/A3:41:1810th
Nov 20th 2016Ironman Arizona3.8k - 180k - 42.2k53:454:04:382:42:317:44:291st

2017

DateRaceDistancesSwimBikeRunTotalRank
January 15, 2017 Pucon 70.3 1.9k - 90k - 21.1k28:202:09:231:16:384:00:081st
March 12, 2017 Buenos Aires 70.3 1.9k - 90k - 21.1k27:191:59:271:13:103:42:471st
April 1, 2017 Oceanside 70.3 1.9k - 90k - 21.1k25:202:05:421:14:063:50:041st
May 6, 2017 St. George 70.3 1.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:252:01:241:12:193:42:312nd
June 3, 2017 Challenge Samorin Championship 1.9k - 90k - 21.1k24:471:56:041:14:223:40:031st
June 11, 2017Leamington Sprint Triathlon750m - 20k - 5k10:4126:4816:2455:101st
June 25, 2017 Mont Tremblant 70.3 1.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:212:01:531:14:013:46:041st
Aug 27th 2017 ITU World Championship 3k - 120k - 30k40:402:51:121:45:355:20:361st
Oct 14th 2017 Ironman World Championship 3.8k - 180k - 42.2k53:414:14:192:51:538:04:072nd
Nov 19th 2017 Ironman Arizona 3.8k - 180k - 42.2k51:334:12:032:47:167:54:101st

2018

DateRaceDistancesSwimBikeRunTotalRank
January 14, 2018 Pucon 70.3 1.9k - 90k - 21.1k26:512:01:151:16:253:48:441st
April 7, 2018 Oceanside 70.3 1.9k - 90k - 21.1k24:352:08:421:11:283:48:582nd
May 6, 2018 St. George 70.3 1.9k - 90k - 21.1k25:262:01:311:11:473:41:111st
June 3, 2018 Challenge Samorin Championship 1.9k - 90k - 21.1k29:051:58:171:10:493:44:031st
June 24, 2018 Mont Tremblant 70.3 1.9k - 90k - 21.1k24:152:02:191:11:233:40:581st
August 19, 2018 Ironman Mont Tremblant 3.8k - 180k - 42.2k55:074:28:352:55:518:24:012nd
October 13, 2018 Ironman World Championship 3.8k - 180k - 42.2k53:594:16:593:15:268:30:3429th

2019

DateRaceDistancesSwimBikeRunTotalRank
Aug 11th 2019Tecumseh Triathlon800m - 32k - 6k12:1143:3622:311:19:241st
August 18, 2019 Ironman Mont Tremblant 3.8k - 180k - 42.2k51:584:15:132:53:588:05:382nd
September 9, 2019 Augusta 70.3 1.9k - 90k - 21.1k23:082:03:081:12:303:42:191st
October 12, 2019 Ironman World Championship 3.8k - 180k - 42.2k52:224:15:223:13:428:25:5422nd
November 3, 2019 Ironman 70.3 Los Cabos 1.9k - 90k - 21.1k25:162:02:341:13:093:44:061st

2021

DateRaceDistancesSwimBikeRunTotalRank
November 6th, 2021Florida Ironman3.8 k - 180 k - 42.2 k58:194:04:302:40:437:48:502nd

2022

DateRaceDistancesSwimBikeRunTotalRank
April, 2022Oceanside 70.31.9 k - 90 k - 21.1 k24:262:08:091:08:293:45:332nd
2022Mont Tremblant 70.31.9 k - 90 k - 21.1 k25:302:05:171:13:593:48:021st
October 8, 2022Kona 140.63.8 k - 180 k - 42.2 k52:574:16:313:17:538:32:2736th
December 3, 2022Indian Wells 70.31.9 k - 90 k - 21.1 k26:532:03:041:11:013:45:164th

2023

DateRaceDistancesSwimBikeRunTotalRank
May, 2023St. George 70.31.9 k - 90 k - 21.1 k26:042:04:581:13:353:48:204th


2024

DateRaceDistancesSwimBikeRunTotalRank
April 8th, 2024Oceanside 70.31.9 k - 90 k - 21.1 k24:362:06:111:10:403:46:241st
June 24, 2024Mont-Tremblant 70.31.1 k - 90 k - 21.1 k16:102:01:441:13:473:35:111st

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References

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