Video: Tim Don, The Man with the Halo – A story of bravery and determination in the face of adversity

On Running, sponsor of Tim Don (GBR), former ITU World Champion produced and published the first steps of Don's comeback fater a serious accident just hours ahead of the 2017 IRONMAN Hawaii Triathlon. Don, one of the fastet male athletes ever in the long distance triathlon, which covers an 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) bicycle ride and a marathon 26.22-mile (42.20 km) run, had to come out of his comfort zone right from day 1 at ground zero - far away from home. Watch the full video below:

"The Man with the Halo – A story of bravery and determination in the face of adversity. Presented by On, directed by Emmy® Award winner Andrew Hinton. 

On teams up with Emmy®-award-winning director Andrew Hinton to bring you The Man with the Halo. This inspirational short documentary tells the unfathomable comeback story of Tim Don, the fastest Ironman triathlete of all time, after breaking his neck in a cycling crash.  

Coming just days before the Ironman World Championships, where Tim was a favorite to top the podium, the crash looked to have ended not only Tim's hopes of becoming World Champion, but potentially his career.

Despite the long road to recovery ahead, Tim's resolve to fight for his dream was clear. Walk the comeback trail with Tim on a journey filled with bravery in the face of adversity, determination and, above all, inspiration."

1. The Man with the Halo, Website
2. The Man with the Halo, Youtube video

Disclaimer: On Running occasionally provides 3athlon with equipment for testing without any conditions. Just search for On in the tag cloud.

Live webcam of the volcanic eruption in the south of Big Island, Hawaii

Since May 2018, the Kilauea volcano has been the scene of smoke clouds, local earthquakes of 5.4 and 6.9 magnitude, several new fissures, from which lava flows in the south of the island are slowly rolling towards the sea and have also destroyed or badly affected some houses of the Leilani estates in the southern district of Puna. Due to the location of the epicentre of the eruption and the current flow direction of the lava, the staging of the Ironman Hawaii Triathlon in October 2018 does not seem to be endangered at present.

However, the increased formation of Vog (volcanic aerosols and air pollution, smog = vog) is immanent for people with sensitive airways, such as children, the elderly and people suffering from respiratory diseases or allergies. Scientificamerica has published two interesting articles on this natural phenomenon, which deals with analogies to the 1924 outbreak and the physical effects of the entry of lava into the Pacific. Worth reading. [1, 2] 

Worth seeing, is a live webcam just half a mile away from two fissures. The operators write on YouTube[3]:

"This feed is from a camera at a residence about a half a mile from fissures 20 and 17. We have permission from the homeowners to broadcast from their home. Sometimes we have to turn the sound off for privacy of the homeowners who are now home and around the camera. There will be times when someone stands in front of the camera, we ask for your patience as this is someones home. Please be respectful to others and the broadcaster in chat or you will be removed."

1. Kilauea’s Next Eruptions May Mirror a Big One in Its Past
2. Kilauea's Lava Is Now Spilling into the Ocean--Here's Why That's Dangerous
3. Live Video: Kilauea Lava Flow Activity In Lower Puna Hawaii

Wang Jianlin's sports holding within Dalian Wanda Group might consider an IPO and sale of overseas assets including Infront Sports & Media AG, World Triathlon Corp (Ironman)

According to Reuters [1], Dalian Wanda might sell these recently in boight assets via an IPO. The two were acquired in 2015 for $1.2 billion and $650 million respectively. An IPO for Ironman was one of 3athlon's favourite 2011 scenarios, to attach all their customers even closer to the brand and lifestyle.[2] What kind of christmas present would this be, to not only race, but own also some stock of your very favourite leisure sport?!

Dalian Wanda Group Co., Ltd. brings together under one roof the newly founded Wanda Sports Holding Co., Ltd. Infront Sports & Media and the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC). Logos: Dalian Wanda Group, Infront, World Triathlon Corporation

Exclusive: China's Wanda mulls sport unit IPO and sale of overseas assets - sources

HONG KONG (Reuters) - China’s Dalian Wanda Group is considering a Hong Kong listing for its sports assets as part of efforts to rationalize its portfolio that could also include other sales, according to five people familiar with the situation.

The conglomerate last month tapped investment banks for a potential initial public offering of its sports businesses, three of the sources said. Citic Securities, China’s largest brokerage, is one of the banks involved, added one of them.

A spokesman for Citic Securities declined to comment.

Wanda’s businesses range from real estate to football and cinemas but it has been rattled in the past year by a government-led crackdown on overseas deals and high leverage. The company is owned by Wang Jianlin, one of China’s richest men.

An IPO of Wanda’s sports assets would include Infront Sports & Media AG, a Swiss sports marketing company and World Triathlon Corp, the organizer and promoter of the Ironman race, according to three of the people.

The two were acquired in 2015 for $1.2 billion and $650 million respectively.

The share offering would also include Wanda’s smaller sports assets in China, such as cycling and basketball leagues, one of them said. The public float would not involve Wanda’s 20 percent stake in the Spanish football club Atletico Madrid, valued at 67 million euros after a recent capital raise, the source said.

The IPO would most likely take place in Hong Kong, but bankers have also pitched for a U.S. listing, according to the people.

Wanda is separately looking to sell Sunseeker International, a British yacht maker it bought in 2013 for $495 million but whose financial performance it has failed to turn around, two other people said.

Wanda declined to comment. The people could not be named as the plans are confidential.

Wanda’s interest in property, sports and entertainment - accounting for more than $13 billion of its deals in the past five years - ran into official opposition last year when Beijing labeled overseas deals in those areas “irrational”.

In addition to sports, its holdings also include the cinema chain AMC Entertainment Holdings and movie studio Legendary Entertainment.

The company is also considering the merits of a pre-IPO funding round for the sports unit, according to one of the people. All plans are still at an early stage however as Wanda is seeking a chief financial officer for the sports business to lead the fundraising efforts, said another of the people.

Property forms the basis of the Wanda empire - its mixed use Wanda Plaza developments are common across China - but this too has put pressure on Wang’s business.

Last year, Chinese regulators told banks to stop providing funding for several of its overseas acquisitions as Beijing looks to curb the conglomerate’s offshore buying spree.

Shortly after, Wanda sold a portfolio of hotels and tourism assets, including 13 theme parks, for $9 billion to Guangzhou R&F Properties (2777.HK) and Sunac China (1918.HK). Five flagship overseas developments - in London, Chicago, Los Angeles, Sydney and Australia’s Gold Coast - are also available for sale, according to one source.

1. Exclusive: China's Wanda mulls sport unit IPO and sale of overseas assets - sources 
2. Bulle oder Bär - kommt ein Initial Public Offering im Ironman Triathlon?