June 10, 2015

Adventist-Organized Triathlon Sets World Record

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By Sharyn Brady, South Pacific Adventist Record, with Adventist Review staff

A triathlon series organized by the Sanitarium Health & Wellbeing Company, a Seventh-day Adventist Church-owned food giant, has set a new world record for the largest under-16s triathlon series, with events in New Zealand and Australia attracting a total of 40,500 participants.

A girl raising her hands after completing the triathlon in Sydney, Australia. (Sanitarium Health & Wellbeing)

The 2015 series of the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon began in December 2014 in Manakau, New Zealand, and finished in May 2015 on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. The 14-event New Zealand series drew 24,043 participants, and 13 Australian TRYathlon events drew a further 16,457 participants.

“We’re excited to have achieved a new world record for the largest under-16s kids’ triathlon series across our 27 events,” said David Martin, community engagement manager at Sanitarium Health & Wellbeing.

The triathlon, now in its 17th year, encourages children to get active in swimming, cycling, and running.

Martin said Sanitarium’s triathlon promotes physical activity in a fun and supportive environment where children are cheered on by family and friends.

“Parents tell us their kids receive a great boost to their self-esteem and confidence after completing the course,” Martin said.

Sanitarium held the previous record as well, with 36,500 children participating in the event in 2013.

The Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon is designed for children aged 7 to 15, and every participant is a “TRY Champ,” qualifying for an official Weet-Bix Kids TRY gold medal and a champion certificate.

Among the thousands of volunteers across the triathlon series, 236 were from the Seventh-day Adventist Church, representing a total of 14 Adventist churches.

Sanitarium Health & Wellbeing is the producer of Weet-Bix, Australia’s No. 1 selling breakfast cereal, and is recognized with changing the country’s eating habits. It notes on its website that it was the first to introduce healthy and innovative breakfast foods and soy foods in Australia, promoting a plant-based diet before it became trendy.