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          Endurance Blog

          Apolo Ohno completes his Ironman journey

          Apolo Ohno rejoiced as he finished his first full Ironman at the world championships in Hawaii. AP Photo/Larry Rosa
          • Doug Williams, Special to ESPN.comOct 14, 2014, 03:16 PM
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            • Former sports editor, San Diego Union-Tribune
            • Freelance writer based in San Diego
            • ESPN.com contributor since 2010
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          As Apolo Ohno neared the finish line of the Ironman World Championship at Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, on Saturday, the music was loud and so was the public address announcer.

          “Let’s welcome No. 144 to the finish line,” he said. “From Utah, Apolo Anton Ohno. You … are an Ironman!”

          Ohno clenched his fists, pumped his arms and looked to the sky as he crossed the line before walking to the end of the finishers’ chute. There, a blanket was draped across his shoulders and a lei put around his neck.

          The heat, locale and 140.6-mile race distance were a long way from the Winter Olympics, where Ohno made his name by winning eight medals -- including two golds -- in short-track speedskating.

          It was yet another accomplishment for Ohno, who has also run the New York City Marathon, won “Dancing With the Stars,” hosted a TV game show and become a successful businessman.

          Ohno, 32, finished the grueling Ironman in 9 hours, 52 minutes, 27 seconds, good for 77th in his men’s 30-34 division and 320th overall. He completed the 2.4-mile swim in 1:00:29, the 112-mile bike in 5:07:15 and the 26.2-mile run in 3:36:41.

          His time wasn’t close to that of overall winner Sebastian Kienle of Germany (8:14:18), but it was excellent considering it was Ohno’s first full Ironman. Also, he met his goal; earlier in the week, he told a reporter his aim was to finish while still wearing his sunglasses.

          “It’ll mean I finished in daylight,” he said.

          On Sunday, Ohno tweeted about the race, thanking his coach, former Ironman great Paula Newby-Fraser, his sponsors and fans who gave him “support and love.”