'Ironman' dad and son to take part in triathlon world championship

SINGAPORE - In most families, it is the sons that usually get the hand-me-downs from their fathers.

But for the Chans, it is the opposite. First-born Sean outgrows his bicycle frames so quickly that father Carl ends up inheriting them.

The duo, who are triathlon enthusiasts, are leaving for London today to compete at the International Triathlon Union World Championships this week - and will be the first Singaporean father-son pairing to do so. They are paying their own way.

While Carl, 48 and a six-time Ironman finisher, will be participating in the age group for those aged 45 to 49, Sean, 16, will be competing in the junior elite category (16-19 years old).

They are part of a five-member local team headed there.

Their interest in the three-discipline sport - swimming, cycling and running - started about 10 years ago when Carl, seduced by the flashy bikes on display, decided to walk into a bicycle shop.

Half an hour later, the then-leisure runner walked out with a $4,000 road bike and a new-found desire to compete in a triathlon.

Today, the family owns four top-of-the-range, carbon-built bicycles. Carl, who works in the finance industry, estimates he has spent at least $80,000 over the years on bicycles alone.

But for him, the investment has been worth it, especially having seen his son grow to enjoy the same passion and also improve as a triathlete over the years.

Said the father who also has a younger son Marc, 14: "I found it satisfying to see how Sean improved over the years.

"We put in the resources and equipment, so it's good to see him put in his own efforts and benefit from training.

"It's more than the sport. It's about having them understand the relationship between having a long-term plan and putting in the effort for it."

Indeed, from learning the ropes from his father six years ago, Sean, an Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) student, has surpassed him in timing.

His sprint distance (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run) time of 1 hour flat beats Carl's 1hr 10min.

Though he may already be faster, Sean - who will also be competing in the Sept 28-29 Cold Storage Singapore International Triathlon - still looks up to his father for inspiration.

Said the son who also intends to do an Ironman (3.86km swim, 180.25km bike, 42.2km run) in future: "He is the one who got me into the sport.

"It gives me someone to look up to and, to see where he has gone, is a goal for me."

ugenec@sph.com.sg

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