Sebastian Coe To Speak At Triangle Challenge
Lord Sebastian Coe, President of World Athletics, will be the honorary guest speaker for the Chubb Bermuda Triangle Challenge on January 17-19, 2025.
A spokesperson said, “The Chubb Bermuda Triangle Challenge [CBTC] is pleased to announce that the President of the World Athletics, Lord Sebastian Coe CH, KBE, has agreed to be the honorary guest speaker for the January 2025 race weekend to be held Friday, January 17 through Sunday, January 19.
“Lord Sebastian Coe [Coe] has been the President of World Athletics [formerly the International Association of Athletics Federations, IAAF] since 2015. Coe is also a well-known, highly accomplished British middle-distance runner who won four Olympic medals in the 1980 and 1984 Olympic Games, consisting of two golds in the 1500 metres and two silvers in the 800 metres. He also medaled in the European Championships including: a bronze in the 800 metres in 1978, a silver in the 800 metres in 1982, a gold in the 800 metres in 1986, and a silver in the 1500 metres in 1986. During his athletic career, Coe set a total of 12 world records in the 800 metres, 1500 metres, and mile.
“Coe retired from competitive athletics in 1990 and was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire [OBE] in 1991. Coe then entered the political arena in Britian in 1992, where he served as a Conservative member of the House of Commons and sat in the House of Lords until February 2022. In 2004, Coe lead London’s bid for the 2012 Olympics. The bid was successful, and Coe became the Chair of the Organizing Committee for the 2012 Olympic Games. In 2015, Coe was elected President of the IAAF now known as World Athletics. In 2006, Coe received Knighthood and was later made a Companion of Honour in 2013.
“Coe founded the Sebastian Coe Charitable Foundation, a UK charity which aims to improve the physical well-being of the nation through sport, health, education, and science. Coe remains deeply involved in sport on a global level and currently serves on the Association of National Olympic Committees, The International Olympic Committee, the British Olympic Association, The Laureus World Sport Academy, and the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations.”
Former Bermuda National Athletics President, Donna Raynor, currently serves on the World Athletics Council and through her role has become well acquainted with Coe. One of Bermuda’s most formidable middle-distance runners herself, Ms. Raynor was the first Bermudian elected to the World Athletics Council in 2021. In her role she has worked alongside Lord Coe including most recently at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Ms. Raynor stated, “I have known President Coe since I was the President of the Bermuda National Athletics Association. He has encouraged me to sit on several World Athletics Committees, The Development Commission, Transgender Working Group, Chair of the National Review Committee, and the International Athletic Foundation. He has been my mentor and was a huge supporter when I decided to run for Council. His goal was for Gender equality by the year 2027 but we accomplished this in the 2023 election. The 214 member federations elected 13 males and 13 females on the Council. My intention has been to have President Coe visit Bermuda for a number of years. I was delighted when he accepted my invitation to be the guest speaker of the 2025 Bermuda Triangle Challenge.”
Well-known local long-distance runner, Domico Watson, currently serves as Creative Director for the CBTC. He had the opportunity to meet with Coe in Paris this summer at the Olympic games. Mr. Watson enthusiastically exclaimed, “President Coe has reached the highest level as an athlete and now is athletics global leader. You expect to meet an individual that will want the highest standards of decorum. Instead, he is such a down to earth and humble person that will usually lighten the mood of a conversation with a joke or fun comment. His passion for athletics stretches to all levels and events. You can always reminisce about history or current news taking place in various sports. I ran into him on a number of my morning runs in Paris. He knew I was preparing for the Olympic Mass Participant Marathon and maintained the same humorous advice ‘just keep training’. He was so gracious as to acknowledge my run during the World Athletics Olympics closing reception. I am extremely excited for President Coe to visit Bermuda so he can display the joy and great spirit he has for the sport to all Challenge participants.”
Managing Director of Global Atlantic Re, Darryl Herrick, commented, “It is a tremendous honor to celebrate President Coe, a true legend whose Olympic triumphs and lifelong dedication to athletics have inspired countless individuals around the globe. President Coe has consistently demonstrated what it means to be an exceptional leader, and he continues to shape the future of international sport. As we gather in Bermuda for this extraordinary race weekend, we are reminded of the power of perseverance, community, and the shared love of competition that President Coe so exemplifies.”
Donna Raynor with Lord Sebastian Coe at the Paris Olympics.
The spokesperson said, “Lord Coe will be speaking at the Chubb Bermuda Triangle Challenge Pasta Dinner, presented and hosted by Global Atlantic Re, on Saturday January 18 at 6pm, at the Hamilton Princess Hotel. Tickets for the Pasta Dinner cost $50 per person and will be available for purchase as of October 15, 2024 on www.bermudatrianglechallenge.com. Coe’s autobiography “Running My Life” will also be available for sale, both at the Pasta Dinner, and at the Chubb Bermuda Triangle Challenge Expo on Friday January 17, which is also held at the Hamilton Princess Hotel, and is open to the public from 10am to 6pm.
“The CBTC is an international three-day running event that will begin on Friday, January 17, 2025, with the Butterfield Mile, continues on Saturday, January 18, 2025, with the BF&M 10k & 5k events, and culminates on Sunday, January 19, 2025, with the PwC Bermuda Marathon, Bermuda Half Marathon, and Bermuda Half Marathon Relay. Runners also have the option of running the Full Triangle Challenge or the Half Triangle Challenge, which sees participants complete three races in three days: the mile on Friday, the 10k on Saturday, and either the full marathon or half marathon on Sunday. To register please visit: https://www.bermudatrianglechallenge.com/registration/.”
