Pensioner keeps battling his way to finish line | Canterbury Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Canterbury

IT SEEMS nothing can stop Anthony Sepie from taking part in his beloved sport of triathlon.

Many men in their 70s, as Sepie is, would have given up a long time ago, faced with the challenges put in front of him.

The Christchurch man has been facing a battle against prostate cancer and leukemia for several year, yet he still finds the time to enter ? and finish ? at least 10 triathlons a year, including Oamaru's Stamina event on Sunday. He added to his sporting resume this summer by taking part in the New Zealand Ocean Swim Series, including the event at his favourite swimming spot, Corsair Bay.

The story of his triumph against adversity doesn't end there though.

Sepie can only swim in the ocean, as his skin is too sensitive to handle the chlorine used in indoor pools, which means he's even out training in the ocean in the middle of winter.

Add to that the bouts of chemotherapy he has for the leukemia every two to three years and the injections required for his prostate cancer (which impede his performances by about 20%), and you wouldn't blame Sepie if he had packed the sport in years ago.

But his reasons for taking part are simple.

"It's an interest and a challenge and you meet very nice people doing it," he said.

Finishing is a must for Sepie as well.

"Like most triathletes, I don't like DNFs (did not finish)." Sepie will go to Oamaru fresh from the Tin Bum triathlon in Golden Bay last weekend, where he won the wooden man trophy as the oldest competitor there.