Monday Morning Motivation – Blazeman

Jon Blais with family and friends

Jon Blais was born in Massachusetts but moved to San Diego because of its sporting reputation. He worked there with students with disabilities. At the age of 33, he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease and was permitted to enter the 2005 Ironman Championships in Kona, Hawaii, which was a lifelong dream.

As Blais put it, “Finishing the race is huge for me. No one is beating ALS. No one has done anything but walk away and die.” His resolve to finish the race was unwavering as he stated, “Even if I have to be rolled across the finish line, I’m finishing.” With a total time of 16:28:56, more than half an hour before the cutoff, he “log-rolled” across the finish line and is the first person with MND to start and finish this race. He died on May 27, 2007. Some international triathletes continue to honour Blais and show their support for the fight against ALS by doing a “Blazeman-Roll” across the Ironman finish line.

To learn more about this incredible athlete, visit: http://www.triathloninspires.com/jblaisstory.html

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