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Sporty Spice Mel C. completes Blenheim Palace Triathlon

Former Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm lived up to her reputation as Sporty Spice over the weekend, completing the Blenheim Palace Triathlon in Oxforshire, England on Saturday. Chisholm was raising money for Bloodwise, a blood cancer charity. This was her first triathlon in two years.

“It’s been an absolute delight to be here supporting Bloodwise in raising awareness of the great work they do for blood cancer patients,” she told reporters. “The atmosphere out on course was something really special and gave me a real boost. It was great to get back on the triathlon scene.”

The 42-year-old completed the sprint distance race — a 750 metre swim, 20 kilometre bike and 5 kilometre run — in 1:41:27. She has been competing in triathlons since 2011.

“I’ve had a few injuries and had completely lost my confidence,” she said after the race on her Facebook page. “With the support of so many wonderful people in my life I found the courage to don a trisuit again! I did it! I reminded myself today that thinking ‘anything is possible’ might be a little optimistic but we are capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for. It’s no Ironman or marathon but it’s a big victory and a great day for little old me!”

The Blenheim Palace Triathlon also had an elite field, where London 2012 gold medallist Alistair Brownlee won the race in 00:58:01. Brownlee and his brother Jonathan are set to race WTS Leeds this weekend and are medal favourites again for the Olympic Games in Rio.