Ironman World Champions to Race at 2007 Laguna Phuket Triathlon

The 2007 Ironman World Champion Chrissie Wellington (GBR), 2007 Ironman 70.3 World Champion Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) and 2005 Ironman World Champion Faris Al-Sultan (GER) will be competing at this year's Laguna Phuket Triathlon on 2 December for a share of the US$20,000 pro prize purse. Other pro triathletes include Richie Cunningham (AUS), Massimo Cigana (ITA) and Belinda Granger (AUS).

Having turned pro only a little over a year ago, Chrissie Wellington is the first Brit to have ever won the title and the biggest surprise winner in the history of the Ironman World Championships. Mirinda, who won her title on 10 November, broke the half-Ironman world record in a time of 4:07:25.

Now in its fourteenth year, the Laguna Phuket Triathlon is supported by Thai Airways International, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Herbalife International (Thailand). Renowned as the "Race of Legends", the Laguna Phuket Triathlon boasts possibly more world champions racing in past fields than any other race in the world short of the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii. Pro triathletes who have participated at Laguna Phuket have won more than 50 world championships from every discipline in the sport of triathlon: Ironman, Olympic, 70.3, Duathlon and Xterra. The list of Olympic and Commonwealth Games medalists, World Cup, US Pro, Ironman, European and various national champions defies accurate count.

Legendary triathletes who have raced at Laguna Phuket include Mark Allen (USA), Greg Welch (AUS), Simon Lessing (GBR), Mike Pigg (USA), Scott Molina (USA), Paula Newby-Fraser (USA), Karen Smyers (USA) and Michelle Jones (AUS).

2006 Laguna Phuket Triathlon champion Reinaldo Colucci has had a strong year with recent wins at the Ironman 70.3 Singapore, the Triathlon de l'Alpe d'Huez and the Mekong River ITU Asian Cup, as well as placing second at the Ironman Brazil. He is currently trying to qualify for the Olympics in 2008, representing the Brazil Triathlon Federation, which prevents him from returning to Laguna Phuket to defend his 2006 title this year as another Olympic qualifying race may take place at the same time as the Laguna Phuket Triathlon.

2006 and 2005 Laguna Phuket Triathlon champion, Samantha McGlone, is also unable to return to defend her title due to injuries sustained at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships. Sam has had an amazing season with two new course records at the 2007 5430 Half Ironman and Vineman 70.3 races, as well as placing second to Chrissie at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii and to Mirinda at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Clearwater, Florida.

The 2007 Laguna Phuket Triathlon will see more than 900 athletes racing in the field with the first wave start for individual athletes at 7 am and the second wave start for relay teams 10 minutes later. The race will also be broadcast to viewers in more than 100 countries in North America, the Middle East, Australia, the Indian sub-continent, Africa, Europe, the United Kingdom and on Channel 7 at 2 pm on 1 January 2008 in Thailand.

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