Triathlon Internazionale Cittá di Bardolino 2016 – Eamon McGinley

Triathlon Internazionale Cittá di Bardolino 2016 – The Meaning of a Number

(this is a translation, the original article can be found at tifaverona.net)

A report from Eamon McGinley, written on the occasion of the 33rd edition of the Triathlon Internazionale Cittá di Bardolino, in 2016.

On Saturday, June 25th 2016 I arrived in Bardolino to take part to the 33rd edition of the Triathlon Internazionale Cittá di Bardolino.

I came from far away, as I left from Dublin, in Ireland, to take part. I became an assiduous contestant in this hard Triathlon. This was my 9th attendance in a row.

Imagine my surprise when this year I arrived at Registration, and I was presented with the bib nr. 1916. 2000 participants from all over the world were involved in this year’s event (600 more than last year, thanks to the new overhead transition zone) and I was the only Irish in the race.

The year 1916 is the most significant year in Irish History. This year (2016) Ireland just commemorated the Centenery of the Easter Rising, when Irish Republicans fought till the end the English dominance, and were able to obtain the independence of the Republic of Ireland.

The Easter Rising only lasted 7 days, however this is the most important event in Irish history. During that week, 16 people who were considered to be the leaders of the revolt were condemned to capital punishment. Hundreds more Irish Citizens were killed, and thousands more were arrested and imprisoned in England and Wales. The Revolt left in the centre of Dublin a symbolic monument, as a testimony to a city flattened by the British dominance in an Ireland in full chaos. What happened with the Easter Rising changed the Irish history forever.

This year was hence for me a surprise and a honour to wear the number 1916, and I swam, I biked, and I ran as competitively as I possibly could, with the goal of obtaining my best result ever. I do not think that the organizers were aware in any way of the meaning of this number when they decided to assign it to me, but I would like to thank them, for making an exceptional event, for making me race with this number, and for making me truly happy.

It would be an amazing thing if also next year, for my 10th attendance, I could again wear the number 1916.

Eamon McGinley,

Dublin, Ireland