Posted: January 3, 2005

Triathlon: An Ironman's Return To Glory Fuels The Latest Chapter Of The Gatorade "Origins" Ad Campaign

Scientific Hydration Strategy Fuels Champion Triathlete Chris Legh's Triumphant Return to Competition After His Near Death Experience at '97 Hawaii Ironman Triathlon

CHICAGO (January 3, 2004) – In the third installment of the "Origins" ad series, Gatorade® Thirst Quencher shows how the "legend" continues with the story of world class Australian triathlete Chris Legh and his 2004 Coeur d'Alene Ironman victory after his near fatal collapse just meters from the finish of the 1997 Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii. The new 60-second spot, called "Testimonial," debuted January 1 during the ABC Bowl Championship Series and is a follow up to the first two "Origins" ads which chronicled Gatorade Thirst Quencher's birth at the University of Florida, and its rise to prominence on NFL sidelines with the Kansas City Chiefs during the 1970 Super Bowl.

The new commercial recounts Chris' journey since that fateful day in Hawaii and showcases how testing at Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) played a major role in his return to competition and helped him snap the finish line tape at the 2004 Ironman Coeur d'Alene. The spot features some of the people who played major roles in his remarkable story, including Dr. Bob Murray, an exercise physiologist from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI), who designed Chris' personalized hydration strategy; veteran cameraman Peter Henning, who captured Chris' dramatic '97 collapse; and Chris' wife, Sarah, who watched this extraordinary story unfold before her eyes. Legendary sports broadcaster, Keith Jackson, once again narrates the story.

At the 1997 Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii, Chris' body shut down completely causing him to collapse 50 meters short of the finish line. During the race, h e was unable to keep any fluids or food down and had become so dehydrated throughout the day, that many of his organs stopped working. Upon arrival to the hospital, doctors realized he had to operate immediately to save Chris' life. Following that day, Chris experienced six years of competitive setbacks until he visited GSSI. Dr. Murray studied how Chris' body reacted to the stressful conditions experienced during an Ironman triathlon in intense heat and developed a proper hydration strategy that would help him replace his sweat losses so he could perform at his best. Soon after his visit to GSSI, Chris captured the Ironman Coeur d'Alene title and repositioned himself atop the Ironman world.

"Of all the athletes that have come through the doors of the Gatorade Sport Science Institute, Chris Legh's story is among the most astounding, and it illustrates how Gatorade helps athletes in all sports and across the world stay hydrated so they can perform at their best," said Cindy Alston, vice president, communications and equity development for Gatorade. "We believe there's nothing more powerful than sharing the true stories of Gatorade to showcase the very real expertise of GSSI and the role of Gatorade as an essential piece of sports equipment."

"The Ironman is considered the most grueling endurance event in the world and after my experience at the 1997 Ironman Triathlon World Championship, I knew I needed to make big changes to my sports nutrition strategy," said Chris Legh. "Working with the Gatorade Sports Science Institute was critical in fully understanding how my body works and enabled me to resurrect my career. By Gatorade telling my story, hopefully others will see just how critical proper hydration is to performance."

The commercial was created by Element79 Partners and directed by Stacy Wall, who also directed spots for Converse, ESPN, Nike and UPS. This production involved camera crews that were placed in a helicopter, on a boat and along the road course of the 2004 Ironman triathlon in Hawaii.

Chris Legh Bio
Australian triathlete Chris Legh is one of the world's great multi-sport athletes, winning more than 60 triathlons throughout his career. Chris is a two-time Ironman Triathlon champion, winning the 2000 Ironman California and the 2004 Ironman Coeur d'Alene. Chris is also a five-time Australian Triathlon National Champion.

Gatorade
Gatorade® Thirst Quencher, the nation's leading sports drink, is backed by 35 years of research. Gatorade is scientifically formulated and athletically proven to quench thirst, replace fluids and electrolytes and provide carbohydrate energy to enhance athletic performance. Gatorade is the official sports drink of the NFL, NBA, WNBA, AVP, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, Major League Lacrosse and numerous professional, collegiate and amateur teams and events throughout the world. Gatorade is manufactured by PepsiCo Beverages and Foods, a division of PepsiCo. For more information, visit www.gatorade.com.

Ironman
The Ironman Triathlon, now celebrating more than 26 years of history is known as the world's most challenging endurance event. The Ironman consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and a 26.2 mile run. Each year, more than 45,000 athletes vie for one of the 1,700 coveted spots to the Ironman Triathlon World Championship held each October in Hawaii. Athletes have the opportunity to qualify at one of the 26 races around the globe and typically dedicate at least six months to train for an Ironman event. For more information, log on to the official Ironman Web site at www.ironmanlive.com.