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Gabriel proves he is a true 'Ironman' after losing 4st
Shields Gazette
|September 15, 2025
A Hebburn man has topped off his weight loss by taking on a gruelling challenge.
Gabriel Sonczek, from Hebburn, recently took on the Tower Triathlon Double Ironman, in Bolesławiec, Poland - completing the gruelling challenge in 26 hours and 28 minutes, placing fourth overall and first in his age group.
A double Ironman means taking on 7.6km of swimming, 360km of cycling and 84km of running - all without taking a break.
In 2017, Gabriel was diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes and weighed 103kg at his heaviest (16st 2lb).
Completing the challenge is impressive in itself, but even more so given that Gabriel has transformed his life over the last few years, losing 30kg (around 4st 7lb) and putting his Type-2 diabetes into remission - having spent three years on medication to control it.
This story is from the September 15, 2025 edition of Shields Gazette.
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