Triathlon connects. Love connects. It is wonderful when both worlds come together, as they did last weekend. After New Zealand Age Group triathlete Johan Lequien crossed the finish line of Challenge Wanaka, he asked his girlfriend Ange Argueta, who had competed in the Short Distance race a day earlier, to marry him. And she said yes!
“Ange and I always considered Triathlon Club as part of our life. Triathlon for us is more than sport, it’s part of our values, weekly fun and life experience. So that was natural also for me to propose Ange at the end of Challenge Wanaka. A unique half iron man (70.3 distance), some unique landscape, and some unique smile that will stay forever at the finish line.
“Ange and I met around 1,5 years ago in Tasmania, when hiking 3 capes track. And our romantic journey became official after some triathlon race.
Coming from france on my side and guatemala on her side, we both discovered triathlon down under and became NSW Technical Official recently!
We are both training on same times during the week, and we usually share 2 or 3 swims per week together.
“regarding the proposal itself, after putting the ring in my running shoes when preparing my gear before the race, I carried the ring during the all run, sweating but smiling. I was sometimes opening the ring box to share this moment with other runners and with the photographs, and all of them were cheering on me! “go jojo, you will make it! It’s gonna be a fabulous moment” or “please wait for me, I want to see it!
“The most fun part of it is we met a local kiwi the day before that offered us some beers at the bar and who said to us we have to get married! (knowing nothing about us and what would happen the next day)
“Why challenge Wanaka?
Because New Zealand was a complete new destination for us, and I wanted a real scenic landscape in the back (mountain + lake was ideal). I could have done it in cairns in australia, but I already finished the full iron man there before.
“Our triathlon friend Nic participated to the preparation in the backstage with a hand made ring and sharing one version of it before the final ring.
“Our Warringah Triathlon Club is more than just a club! This is the place we met friends for life, and where we are sharing lots of important moments. I know I can trust and get supported by the people with who I swim, run, cycle everyday, and that was important to get their support during the last 2 years which have been difficult for me (not because of Ange of course!
“Wedding should happen in 2024, maybe during the Paris Olympic Games as we are sport addict? That could bring us to some fun games during the wedding!”
