Pete Jacobs (triathlete)

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Pete Jacobs
Personal information
NicknamePJ
Born (1981-10-27) 27 October 1981 (age 42)[1]
Sydney[1]
Height1.79 m (6 ft)[1]
Weight70 kg (154 lb)[1]
Sport
CountryAustralia
SportTriathlon
Medal record
Representing  Australia
Men's triathlon
Ironman World Championship
Gold medal – first place 2012 Individual
Silver medal – second place 2011 Individual

Pete Jacobs (born 27 October 1981) is an Australian professional triathlete competing primarily in long-distance, non-drafting triathlon events. He is the winner of the 2012 Ironman World Championship.[2]

Athletic career[edit]

Jacobs was born to parents Jenny and Geoff in Sydney, Australia[3] and raised in the Northern Beaches area.[4] He grew up following his mother to local triathlon events but took to surf lifesaving as well as cross country running growing up, but states that he never took running seriously at that point.[5] Jacobs started competing in triathlon at the age of 18. During his training at the pool for surf lifesaving he meet other triathletes that helped guide him into the sport.[5] It wasn't until after four years in a landscaping apprenticeship, which he started right out of school, that he decided to turn pro.[6][7]

Jacobs first Ironman victory came in 2011 at the Ironman Australia event after numerous top 5 placings in Ironman and Challenge Roth triathlon events.[8] He routinely posts the top swim and run times at his racing events, and even posted the third fastest run time on the Ironman World Championship course in 2011.[9] It wasn't until his win at the 2012 Ironman World Championship did the three-time Hawaii Ironman top ten finisher posted his breakthrough performance[4] where he won by five minutes over second-place finisher Andreas Raelert.

In 2014 Jacobs received criticism from Ironman CEO Andrew Messick, who accused him of having a lack of professionalism when he claimed his automatic qualifying spot for the 2014 Ironman World Championship at Ironman Switzerland. In that race he finished with a time of 11:42, last among pro men and 970th overall.[10] Jacobs first responded to his comments via Twitter by calling Messick a "troll."[11] A month later, before the championship, he formally replied to Messick on his website offering an explanation for his performance in Zurich; which he attributed to season-long fatigue.[12] The two later met privately to put their dispute at rest.[13]

Jacobs works with the coaching service BPM-Sport.[14]

Notable results[edit]

Some of Jacobs' notable achievements include:[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "About Pete". Petejacobs.com. Archived from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  2. ^ "2012 Ironman World Championship - Official Results Guide" (PDF). World Triathlon Corporation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  3. ^ Geddes, Jon (9 October 2012). "Ironman Pete Jacobs inspired by wife as he tackles Hawaiian lava fields". Manly Daily. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  4. ^ a b Lulham, Amanda (14 October 2012). "Sydney's Peter Jacobs triumphs in Hawaii ironman". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  5. ^ a b Krabel, Herbert (22 January 2008). "Meet Pete Jacobs". Slowtwitch.com. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  6. ^ "Interview with Pete Jacobs: The King of Kona". BCN Triathlon. 16 November 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  7. ^ Bennett, Holly (7 June 2012). "Profile: Pete Jacobs Is Hunting Down A Kona Win". Competitor Group, Inc. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  8. ^ a b "Results". Petejacobs.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  9. ^ Carlson, Timothy (20 August 2012). "Can Jacobs advance at Kona?". Slowtwitch.com. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  10. ^ Carlson, Timothy (8 August 2014). "Messick explains the changes". Slowtwitch.com. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  11. ^ Flynn, Joe (11 August 2014). "Ironman's anger at tri chief claim". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  12. ^ "An open letter to Ironman CEO". petejacobs.com. 30 September 2014. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  13. ^ Vaughn, Roger (11 October 2014). "Jacobs aims to regain top Kona form". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  14. ^ "Pete Jacobs, The Perfect Technique". American Athlete Magazine. 9 November 2012. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2012.

External links[edit]