Igor Amorelli

Asked about his proudest moment, it's no wonder Igor Amorelli replies: "Winning IRONMAN Brazil in my home state, in front of my family, friends and so many Brazilians”.

It was not only the event which helped define Igor’s impressive triathlon career. Several years earlier it had also got him started in the sport.

"I went to watch and help some friends there and after the mass start me and a couple of friends made a pact that we would do it in the future.

"I started training the next day. It took a few years until I raced an IRONMAN - I stayed at short-course for a while, but was always thinking about the full distance."

Amorelli’s first big moment at the race came in 2012 when he made the podium in third with a time of 8:27:56. The following year he'd moved up to second, in 8:19:40, and also came 13th at the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona.

The dream was finally fulfilled 12 months later with his first IRONMAN title, in front of delighted home fans seeing a first Brazilian winner, and with a time of 8:07:54.

That proved the launchpad for Igor, as he went on to win both 70.3 Punta del Este and 70.3 Puerto Rico in 2015. Returning to his favourite race, he then became the first Brazilian (and South American) to go under eight hours for an IRONMAN when fourth in the Latin American Championship event in 7:59:36.

Amorelli has won races every year since, including IRONMAN Maastricht-Limburg in 2016 which capped a comeback from a broken arm.

In 2017 he hoovered up 70.3 Las Palmas and 70.3 Miami, the latter just eight days after taking 14th at Kona. He then landed 70.3 Florianópolis on his happy hunting ground in both 2018 and 2019.

Florianópolis was also the scene for a remarkable IRONMAN race in 2017 when Igor finished third behind Tim Don, who shattered the world-record time for the distance in a remarkable 7:40:23.

It has not always been smiles every time on home turf for Igor, as his most painful memory also came in IRONMAN Brazil.

“I had to walk the last 21km in 2019 just to finish the race. I was one of the main contenders but had a bad day and it was very painful not physically, but also emotionally. I had to swallow my pride and finish it."