Dedicated French triathlete returns to the Bay to complete his journey

French triathlete, Nicolas Gracco De Lay recently made news by travelling from his home town in the south of France to South Africa – by car. His aim was to promote the sport of triathlon and raise funds and awareness for the KFC Ironman 4 the Kidz charity and to participate at the Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa in Port Elizabeth.
 
After numerous setbacks, some of which threatened to derail his quest, Gracco De Lay competed in and finished the toughest Ironman South Africa in the history of the event – his first ever Ironman. During his time in Port Elizabeth, the Frenchman garnered extensive media coverage spreading awareness for the Ironman 4 the Kidz and used some of his time away from training to visit some of the KFC Ironman 4 the Kidz beneficiaries.
 
En route to South Africa Gracco De Lay’s 1986 Citroen BX broke down and has since been stranded in Livingstone, Zimbabwe where mechanics attempted to repair it. This meant that his quest of travelling 25 000km by car could not be fully completed. After completing Ironman, the Frenchman vowed to complete his quest by going back to collect his car and drive through South Africa. Sadly, his car could not be repaired in time but Citroen graciously lent him another vehicle to allow him to continue on his way.
 
After completing Ironman South Africa, Gracco De Lay ventured north going to Johannesburg before travelling to Windhoek through Botswana. While in Namibia he continued to spread the message for the Ironman 4 the Kidz as well as using the time to assess the state of triathlon in Namibia.
 
He drove down the West Coast before taking refuge in Cape Town where he met with various sport officials, media and the French consul with whom he was invited to attend a match at Newlands between France and Ireland at the recent IRB Junior Rugby World Cup. His journey then took him along the Garden Route where he stopped over in Plettenberg Bay before arriving in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.
 
While in Port Elizabeth, he aims to use the time to meet with various sport officials and visit Ironman 4 the Kidz beneficiaries, MTR Smit and Khayalethu Youth Centre. After his short stay in Port Elizabeth he moves on to Durban and thereafter Tzaneen. His aim is to spread awareness for the Ironman 4 the Kidz charity in all nine provinces and to promote triathlon.
 
Gracco De Lay has big plans for 2013 as well. He aims to participate in more official events in his native France and Africa and continue promoting the work of Ironman 4 the Kidz, the sport of triathlon and health and wellness through sport. He has already stated that he wants to compete at Ironman South Africa again next year on 14 April 2013.
 
The KFC Ironman 4 the Kidz is a cause very close to the Frenchman’s heart and although the charity currently assists needy children in the Eastern Cape only, he hopes that the work he does inspires people across Africa to use sport as a means to assist children in need from all over the continent.  
 
While on his African adventure, he collected items for auction, the proceeds of which will all be donated to the Ironman 4 the Kidz Charity. The items up for auction include kit signed by French Olympian Fred Belaubre, and Sylvain Sudrie, 2012 ITU Long Distance World Champion, national football jerseys signed by the 2012 CAF African Cup of Nations winners, Zambia and Senegal and various other items. These collector’s items will all be on auction on the Ironman 4 the Kidz website www.ironman4thekidz.co.za.