HE waited a long time – two decades to be precise – but Chris Standidge can finally say he’s an international champion.

A gold medal in his category at last month’s European Championships was the perfect way to mark 20 years since making his debut at the same event as a junior.

“It was my seventh attempt,” he said.

“I’ve been doing triathlons since starting as a teenager in 1995.

“I’ve won a couple of silver medals, in 2007 and again a couple of years later, so it was nice to go one better this time around.”

Standidge, who lives in Oakmere, held off the challenge of his rivals in the men’s 35-39 class to claim victory in Geneva.

He prepared for the race in Switzerland by winning an Ironman event in Staffordshire the previous month.

“I raced well to get there, so I knew my form was good,” said the Torq team member.

“You go into most races knowing you are there or thereabouts; it’s about feeling good on the day.

“I was third after the swim, but caught the guy in second place pretty quickly after that. I then got past the leader, but he sat on my wheel for the rest of the bike course.

“The temperature was in the mid-30s, which I’m not used to, so that always puts a question mark over how things might go.

“Luckily I managed to get away from him, and we had a couple of minutes over the bronze medal position by the end.” 

Standidge completed the Olympic distance course, which includes a 1,500m swim, 40km bike ride and 10km run, in 2:00.28.

The 35-year-old, who does part of his training with Vale Royal Athletics Club, recorded splits of 20.40, 59.32 and 36.36 respectively.

He turns his attention next to the Ironman 70.3 World Championships, in Austria, later this month.

“I’m feeling confident,” he said ahead of a trip to Zell Am See.

“After 20 years of competing, the result in Geneva has to go down as one of my best. 

“So it’s nice to be still doing well in my 30s with no sign of slowing down just yet.

“I went to Canada [for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships] last year, but had peaked around June or July and was on a downward spiral.

“That made it difficult to fit in the training that’s required.

“You pay for it in the final three or four miles; I came off the bike in sixth place, but finished 17th [in class].

“I’d love to get into the top 10 this time around. 

“They do a podium for the top five finishers, so to end up on there would be superb.” 

The Ironman 70.3 World Championship is scheduled for Sunday, August 30.

More than 1,800 athletes have qualified to take part in the event, which is being hosted in Europe for the first time.

The 70.3 refers to the total distance, in miles, covered by the race.

A 1.2-mile swim is followed by a 56-mile bike ride before a 13.1-mile run.