With a move from the inland modern capital Brasilia, dominated by the futuristic, iconic, monumental buildings of Oscar Niemeyer, to the cheery seaside resort of Penha, Ironman Brazil 70.3 featured intense battles for the wins taken by proven stars.

After swimming and biking virtually side by side, 37-year-old star Oscar Galindez of Argentina outlasted 23-year-old Brazilian pro Igor Amorelli on the run for a 43-second margin of victory in 3:54:24. While Galindez’s 1:19:00 run was only second-best to third place Juraci Junior, it was enough to outduel young Morelli’s hopes to topple the multiple Ironman winner and two-time Olympian Galindez.

The women’s contest between 29-year-old ITU star Mariana Ohata of Brazil and 26-year-old Brazilian pro Vanessa Giannini was dramatically closer. Ohata emerged from the Atlantic 1 minute 42 seconds in front of Giannini, and then her 2:32:22 bike made the margin 2 minutes 2 seconds going into the run. Giannini then cut into Ohata’s lead every step of the 13.1-mile run, but in the end her race-best 1:26:11 run was six seconds short of taking the win from the veteran Ohata.

2008 Brazil Ironman 70.3
Penha, SC Brazil
September 14, 2008
S 1.2 mi/ B 56 mi/ R 13.1 mi

Results

Overall men

1. Oscar Galindez (Arg) 3:54:24
2. Igor Amorelli (Bra) 3:55:07
3. Juraci Junior (Bra) 3:59:53
4. Ivan Junior (Bra) 4:07:03
5. Frederico Monteiro (Bra) 4:10:11
6. Frank Silvestrin (Bra) 4:11:35
7. Rafael Sousa (Bra) 4:11:44 * M25-29
8. Ciro Violin (Bra) 4:13:40 * M25-29
9. Roberto Valente (Bra) 4:16:38 * M25-29
10. Anderson Santos (Bra) 4:17:30 * M25-29

Overall women
1. Mariana Ohata (Bra) 4:25:35
2. Vanessa Giannini (Bra) 4:25:41
3. Ana Borba (Bra) 4:29:21
4. Susana Santos (Bra) 4:43:01 * F25-29
5. Flavia Rocha (Bra) 4:50:31 * F35-39
6. Patricia Giuliano (Arg) 4:53:03 * F45-49