Premium
Romanian Tiberiu Useriu, born in northern Bistrita-Nasaud, on Friday won for the second consecutive year, the 6633 Arctic Ultra marathon, taking place in Canada, in the Arctic Circle area, being the only contestant to have achieved such a performance.
The organisers of the event announced online that Tiberiu crossed the finish line at 01:25 hrs Canada time, the temperature being minus 36 Celsius degrees.
Tibi, who led the race from the beginning to the end, just as last year, ran the last kilometres on his own risk, after doctors initially wanted to stop him, because of toe frostbite. Despite that, the marathonist succeeded to finish the race with a big advance from the next contestant, the Scottish Roddy Riddle.
The 6633 Arctic Ultra marathon began on March 10, and the contestants had to face temperatures that dropped to approximately minus 40 Celsius degrees, but also strong winds and snowfalls.
The race counted on 24 contestants from four continents, of whom 18 chose to run the maximum distance, of 350 miles (the equivalent of 560 km). Three contestants were women that enrolled for the 120 mile race and only five had participated in other editions of this ultramarathon.
Tibi Useriu was the only Romanian participant, whereas last year there were three Romanian representatives. Many contestants abandoned the race due to the harsh weather conditions, with only nine marathonists remaining in the end.
The 6633 Arctic Ultra marathon reached its ninth edition this year, and is regarded as one of the toughest marathons in the world, given its conditions.
