Statue of Kenneth Gasque unveiled in Puerto del Carmen

Friends, colleagues, past and present officials and well-wishers gathered yesterday on Puerto del Carmen’s seafront to pay homage to the founder of the Lanzarote Ironman race, Kenneth Gasque, and see the unveiling of the statue in his honour.

The statue depicts Kenneth, in his famous bowtie, waiting to hang an Ironman medal around the neck of a competitor, just as he has done to thousands of competitors year after year. 

There were fond speeches by Tías Mayor José Juan Cruz, sculptor Cintia Machín, Cabildo Sports Councillor Juan Monzón and Cabildo President Oswaldo Betancort, who responded to Kenneth’s earlier comment that he was “not a Lanzaroteño” by pledging to start the process to have him officially named as a Favoured Son of the Island. 

Kenneth himself told a story about how everyone called him crazy when he went running as a boy, when he came to Lanzarote, and when he decided to set up the Ironman race.  He concluded by saying the only person he was really crazy about was his beloved wife, Anna-Lis and told the audience “When you see that crazy kid, let him run.”