"Racing for 3rd Place"
One of the sport’s most beloved original heroes passed away on December 15, 2020. Dave Orlowski, who finished third at the first Ironman race in 1978, had been battling cancer Leukemia for a number of years.
Orlowski was a popular figure in the triathlon world, travelling to events around the world – he was a regular at races with folks like Canadians John Wragg and Elizabeth Model, who have completed every Ironman race on the planet along with Mexico’s Luis Alvarez and American Jeff Jonas. He will always be most remembered, though, for his third-place finish behind Gordon Haller and John Dunbar in a time of 13:59:13 at the original Ironman event in 1978.
For years Dave Orlowski has served as a reminder of triathlon’s roots, a bridge between the origins of the sport and it’s higher-tech, more-serious present. We’re going to miss him.
