Sports Person of the Week

Eugene Bonthuys

Friday,  July 22, 2005

When he moved to the Cayman Islands with his wife in December last year, Eugene Bonthuys had resigned himself to the fact that his sporting career was over. An avid cyclist and occasional triathlete and runner, he feared that Cayman would not offer much in terms of variety and challenge. By his own admission though, he was sorely mistaken.

“I thought that, with such a small community, on such a flat island, there would not be much happening in terms of cycling. I was rather surprised to find as many fellow cyclists as I have. And very competitive cyclists at that.”

Eugene is a former regional medallist in track, road, time trial, duathlon, and triathlon racing. He has also completed two Ironman triathlons, as well as 24-hour solo mountain bike races.

Although he still misses the mountains of his native South Africa, he finds that the flatter terrain of Cayman holds challenges of its own.

“I have never had to dodge crabs while cycling before. And I always feel silly trying to explain to the people back home that I punctured because I ran over a crab!”

In his free time, he likes to go training with his friends, or sit and work on his bicycle.

“Cycling is not a sport – it is an obsession,” says Eugene.

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