U.S. Navy Athletes Complete 2008 Ford Ironman World Championship Triathlon

"Today six Navy athletes took serving their country one step further by pushing themselves to their physical limits in a world class test of human endurance," said Captain Duncan Smith of Naval Special Warfare Command. "Navy is proud to celebrate our 30th year of participation in Ironman. Athletes of this caliber and the Ironman organization at large share many of the core values we hold dear in the Navy: pursuit of excellence, personal fitness and unwavering commitment."

Today's race will air at 2:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 13 on NBC.

Two Navy SEALs and four members of the U.S. Navy athletic team were among an elite group of only 1,800 athletes who participated in the most prestigious world championship race the sport has to offer: 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of biking and a 26.2 mile marathon run through ocean waves and challenging lava-covered terrain. This year's Navy triathletes represent a diverse mix of Navy careers:

-- Commander Kristan Barnes is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and a Naval flight officer currently serving as Officer in Charge, Afloat Planning System, Pacific Operational Support Division,Pearl Harbor. A native ofVermillion, Ohio, she is an avid triathlete, completing six full marathons and Ironman Arizona this year.

-- Commander Keith Davids, a native ofMiami, is a decorated U.S. Navy SEAL and commanding officer of SEAL Team ONE. He completed his first marathon at the age of 11 and is joined inKona by his wife, Commander Yvette Davids, commanding officer of the USS Curts.

-- Lieutenant Commander Damon Dixon, a Naval Academy graduate and Navy oceanography officer, is executive officer of the Naval Oceanography Special Warfare Center. A native of the San Francisco Bay area, Dixon began competing in triathlons in 2004. To prepare for Ironman he spent between 16 and 22 hours training each week.

-- Lieutenant Commander John Marinovitch grew up inDavis, Calif., and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy. He is a surface warfare officer on USS Independence. Ranked a three-time all-American in swimming, he has competed in triathlons for the past 18 months.

-- Lieutenant Jeff Tomazewski grew up inPittsburgh and is an aviation maintenance duty officer at the Naval Post-Graduate School inMonterey, Calif. He is a seasoned triathlete; today's race was his sixth Ironman triathlon and his third Ironman World Championship.

-- Petty Officer 1st Class David Goggins grew up inIndianapolis, Ind., and is assigned to the Naval Special Warfare Center inCoronado, Calif. As a Navy SEAL, he has served inAfghanistan andIraq. As an Ultra Athlete, Goggins has completed 14, 100-plus-mile races, finishing in the top five in most of them. Goggins finished second at the Ultraman World Championships on his first attempt. This is his first Ironman Triathlon.

SOURCE U.S. Navy

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