Alfredo Ramirez-Pinho couldn’t believe it. In the final seconds of the Hawaii “Honu” Ironman 70.3, he looked around for fellow competitors, but there were none to be found.
 |
"I saw the finish line, and looked back, I was like, 'ok, this is it. It is mine now and I am taking the tape home," said Alfredo. “It was very, very special.”
With a significant lead, Alfredo, finished the race in four hours and 19 minutes. His good friend, SSM Health oculoplastic surgeon Dr. John Rose, was there to swim with a relay team. When he was done he went to the finish line to witness Alfredo’s big moment.
"You see his smile as he's high fiving spectators with the finish line tape in front of him, knowing the nearest competitor is almost seven minutes behind him," Rose said.
The two men work side by side at SSM Health Davis Duehr Dean in Madison, Wisconsin, and train together after work. In fact, they coach each other. Alfredo credits Dr. Rose with teaching him how to swim a few years ago. Dr. Rose says Alfredo helps him in the running and biking.
"I can be of some help to Alfredo as a swimmer, but being the tremendous natural athlete he is, he can teach me basically the rest of triathlon," Rose said.
Last fall 34-year-old Alfredo competed in the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. That race is like the Super Bowl of triathlons.
Alfredo, now more familiar with the challenges of the climate and terrain, plans to head back to Hawaii for the Ironman World Championship in 2024. Dr. Rose will be there again to support him.
For more information, watch Madison, Wisconsin's Fox 47 news story on Alfredo.
