That February 18, 1978, 15 daredevils stood on Waikiki Beach (Honolulu) ready to complete 3,500 meters of swimming, 182 kilometers of cycling and a marathon.

The Ironman was being born, an extraordinary challenge that had arisen from a bravado a few days before.

That day only 12 finished and a taxi driver,

Gordon Haller

,

beat

in 11 hours, 46 minutes and 58 seconds.

This Thursday Dave Orlowski, who entered third, a triathlon legend, passed away.

Because that initiation day everything turned out to be legendary.

The challenge, launched at a meal after an awards ceremony in Honolulu by the

US Navy Commander John Collins

responded to completing the three tests that were held on the island, the Waikiki Roughwater Swim, the Around-Oahu Bike Race and the Honolulu Marathon.

That was in December 1977, after a now famous debate about who was the most resistant and capable athlete: a runner, a swimmer or a cyclist.

Orlowski, who was 22 years old and in the Marine Corps stationed in Hawaii, took the start on that adventure with several companions.

She used a borrowed bicycle, tennis shoes, and cut-off jeans that irritated her legs during the run (although she still climbed several places), which she had donned over her Speedo swimsuit.

The goal was to be

able to carry some money and buy food and drink

during the very long test, which he completed in almost 14 hours (13: 59.13).

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"The night before the event I grabbed some scissors and cut a pair of blue jeans to have shorts with pockets to put money in and stop to buy food or drink. There were no aid stations, so my nutrition consisted of

stopping at the stations. service

and eat Hershey bars, water, coke, juice ... I stopped at a McDonalds and had a hamburger, fries and a milkshake. I had to park my bike outside and I was worried it would be stolen, "Orlowski recalled during an interview in 2008.

At the age of 64, Dave, a regular in the Ironman tests that have been later consecrated around the world, has not been able to overcome

a leukemia

against which he had been fighting for years.

"Completing that Ironman changed my life. As well as anyone who has finished one. Push your limits and discover things about yourself and what you are capable of. It gives you a confidence that carries over into your daily life," he said.

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