Footbiking 2 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze

It was an amazing week in Germany for the Australian Footbike Team…

As you will know, whilst most of the world has been focussed on watching the Olympics in London, our Australian Footbike Team was competing at the Footbike World Championships in Sankt Wendel in Germany.

The fantastic news is that they arrived back with some awesome results. Personal bests for everyone, and 2 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze.

Fourteen year old Ali Hassan got a special leave pass from school to compete and he stole the show!

In Ali’s first event, the 400m Sprint, he finished first by a margin of several seconds to beat his previous personal best and become the new Cadet World Champion. The Criterium race for Ali was 8km twice around a circuit that included beautiful hilly countryside around a golf course. Ali was just pipped at the post to be beaten by Luca from Italy, but he was still happy to be second.

In the Cadet Marathon he took victory again to become World Champion over a 15km race. This was an inner city course that included 8 circuits through the town and he was challenged the whole way but came home to win by just 1.13 seconds!

The Europeans, who have far more international competition experience, were very happy to have someone from outside Europe challenge them.

Alan Stewart was the other member of the team to take the podium. He was delighted to be 3rd in the Veteran 400m Sprint race, after just missing out with a 4th in Italy in 2010. He was also thrilled to complete the Men’s Marathon after he had a disaster in that race in 2010 when his new carbon fibre handlebars snapped soon after the race started.

Other members of the team were happy to perform personal bests. They were Jo Hassan (Ali’s Mum) and Lyn Cook who both competed in the Women’s Veteran 400m Sprint and Women’s Veteran Criterium (13 km). Team Manager, Bruce Cook raced both of those events in the Men’s Veteran category as well as the Marathon (42 km).

In a field traditionally dominated by Europeans, we’re very proud and excited for the team to be “bringing home gold for Australia.”

Well done to the team, and thanks to all our supporters.  Check out the Photo Album on the Australian Footbike Association page on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Australian-Footbike-Association/219482624772178?ref=hl