Simon Lessing
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Simon Lessing (born February 12, 1971) is a triathlete from the United Kingdom, born in South Africa he now lives in Boulder Colorado, United States but competes for the UK.
His major sponsors include American Interbanc (Mortgage Bankers), Asics (apparel) and Javelin (bike).
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[edit] Short Course
During the 1990s he and his great rival, fellow Brit Spencer Smith, dominated Olympic distance triathlon. Lessing won the ITU Olympic Distance Triathlon World Championship in 1992 Muskoka Canada, 1995 Cancun Mexico 1996 Cleveland United States, and 1998 Lausanne Switzerland.
In 1996, Lessing broke the world record in the World Championship triathlon (Olympic distance) with a time of 1 hour, 39 minutes, 50 seconds at Cleveland, Ohio, USA. This record stands as of 2006 (compare with the Olympic Games record by Simon Whitfield of 1:48:24.02).
Lessing is a regular competitor at the famous Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon held annually in San Fransisco Bay. He has won the mens elite division there three times, 1996, 2003 and 2004.
Lessing competed at the first Olympic triathlon at the 2000 Summer Olympics. He took ninth place with a total time of 1:49:24.32.
[edit] Long Course/70.3
His first attempt at Long Course Triathlon took place in 1993 on the Nice triathlon course, in the Cote d'Azure. A memorable race to many fans Lessing stayed with 9 time defending Champion Mark Allen until within 5 kilometers of the finish. He went on to win the Nice race in 1995.
In 1996, he won the ITU Long Course Championship in Muncie Indiana.
Lessing has won numerous Ironman 70.3 races on the World Triathlon Corporation Circuit. Including the inaugural 70.3 at Walt Disney World Florida in 2004, He repeated as champion there in 2005. He won first place at the Vineman 70.3 in 2006.
In 2005 he set a new half-Ironman course record at the famous Wildflower triathlon.
[edit] Ironman
Simon Lessing qualified for the 2004 world championships with a 1st place win and course record at Ironman Lake Placid in July 2004. He set a course record of 8:23:12. His first appearance at the Ironman World Championships (2004) he dropped out halfway into the bike leg, due to fierce winds and problems with his back.
Lessing did not complete the marathon at the 2005 Ironman Couer d'Alene and failed to qualify there for Kona. Simon Lessing, raced again the same summer and qualified for 2005 Hawaii Ironman World Championships, by taking 4th place at Ironman Canada in Penticton, B.C., August, 2005, in a time of 8:43:13. He did not complete the marathon at the 2005 world championships, some say he was to worn out by the season of racing by the time he arrived there in October.
2006 saw Lessing compete at the 70.3 distance although there are rumours of his return to Kona for redemption at the World Championships in 2007.
