Matthew Mirabelli, a photo­grapher for the Times of Malta, yesterday had his childhood dream come true when he completed the Ironman Vichy challenge in France in 11 hours and 44 minutes.

The triathlon consisted of a 3.8-kilometre long swim in lake Allier, a 180-kilometrelong bicycle ride through the regions of Allier and Puy-de-dome and a 42-kilometre-long run along the shores of Lac d’Allier and historical Vichy.

“It was something that I had wanted to do since I was 12 but kept putting off. Now I finally did it,” Mr Mirabelli said.

He said that he was happy to have finished the challenge in under 12 hours.

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