World Duathlon Championships

John Kipper competed in the Duathlon World Championships in Rimini, Italy on September 28, 2008 with 900 competitors from around the world. He joined 216 members of Team USA after qualifying in a national competition in Ohio in 2007. John received a bronze medal for coming in 3rd in his age group and was the first American to finish allowing him to proudly carry the American flag across the finish line. The duathlon consisted of a 10K run, a 40K bike and a 5K run. His time was 2:04:50 and was his personal best. Cheering him on were his parents, Paul and Bonnie Kipper, friends Ron and Patti Lessmann of Cape Girardeau MO, Russ Griffith, of Bristol, UK and Luke of Naples, Italy. John received sponsorship from John Dodd of CycleWerx, Dr. Bryon Glenn of Cape Urgent Care, his grandparents, Henry Kipper and Jeanette Berdahl, and many friends.