Photo: Michael Somsan – Blind Ironman/Facebook
It doesn’t matter that Michael Somsan is completely blind. He still crossed the finish line at the 2016 IRONMAN World Championship.
Somsan navigated Kona’s 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-mile run with training partner and guide, Dominic Bernardo.
The 46-year-old Army veteran and attorney from Gilbert, Ariz. lost his sight at 24 years old when he was shot in the head while trying to break up a fight.
After nearly losing his life, he took up triathlons. Then in 2014, he completed a sprint triathlon, an Olympic-distance triathlon, a half Ironman, and a full Ironman all in one year. After finishing another full Ironman a year later, he decided to go after Kona.
For Somsan, it’s a team sport. He has a group of volunteers who train with him every week.
“When you do an Ironman, I’ve learned to have an appreciation for the genuine actions of a lot of people, the people that support me,” he told CNN. “I think sometimes you forget about that. Any person that succeeds in life, whether it’s an Ironman, whether it’s your job or parenting, whatever it is you’re struggling with and your goals are in life, there’s people that support you.“I don’t think I could have gotten this far if I didn’t have good people. …These are just good people. I’m racing for them as well, not just for me. My success is their success.”
What a race. What an accomplishment.
