AT ONE point during the Ironman 70.3 Mallorca, Emma-Kate Lidbury had severe doubts about whether she would finish the race, let alone win it.

All had been going well for the first-placed triathlete until the second transition, when she came crashing down off her bike and later required three stitches in her knee.

Determined to defend her title, the former Adver reporter bravely carried on and ultimately managed to stay ahead for the final leg of the race, the 13.1km run.

She explained: “I had fond memories of Mallorca and to say I was eager to perform well and be champion once more is an understatement.

“In the lead-up I had spent a fair amount of time visualising the race, thinking about how it might unfold and preparing myself for a variety of outcomes.

“It would be fair to say that, up until the moment I came crashing off my bike in transition two, it had all gone pretty much to plan with a strong swim and a strong latter part of the bike course.

“Ending up on the floor with my knee sliced open and blood everywhere wasn’t in any of the scripts I’d been reading in the build-up to Saturday’s race.”

Luckily for Lidbury, she was well attended to by the first-aiders in the changing tents and although somewhat put off by the sight of her worse-for-wear knee, the local triathlete picked herself up and completed the half-marathon course.

“The first lap was ugly. Although I could actually run, I was not in a good place mentally and was feeling quite odd,” added Lidbury.

“I had no idea how far behind the other girls were and, I’m ashamed to admit it now, I was almost ready to DNF (pull out).

“When I turned into the finish chute to take the win and my fourth Ironman 70.3 title, I was one happy little camper.

“Huge thanks to each and every person who cheered me on. I took so much energy from the crowd on Saturday.

“Thanks also to the medical staff who did a mighty fine job of stitching my knee up afterwards. Particular thanks to the Team Abu Dhabi doctor who did a superb job of advising and helping me throughout.”