Ironman Wales is back in Tenby this weekend on Sunday - this year with a record, sold-out field of nearly 2400 athletes.

One of those is professional Welsh-Irish opera singer, Phil Gault - who will be lining up on Tenby’s North Beach to take on his first ever Ironman.

However, before he embarks on the 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run, he will have the honour of leading athletes and spectators in the singing of the Welsh National Anthem before the start of the race.

Anyone who has been to Ironman Wales, whether as an athlete or spectator, will know what a special moment the singing of the anthem is. For Phil, the moment is one he is relishing.

“It will be one of the most amazing moments of my life, and although the day will be unforgettable in so many ways, I know that the experience will stick with me forever,” he said.

Although he now lives in Scotland, the Welsh-born singer chose Ironman Wales as his first Ironman as he wanted to feel like he was on home ground.

“I really like a challenge and Ironman Wales is one of the top ten hardest (long) distance races. I’ve heard that the atmosphere in Pembrokeshire is the best of any Ironman course in the world, and who wouldn’t want to experience that first-hand.”

While most first-time Ironman athletes prepare to have every detail in place for before the start of their race, Phil will also be preparing to sing the famous anthem.

He also performed some guest spots in a charity concert for the Tenby Male Choir on the Thursday preceding the race and decided to reach out to Ironman to offer to sing the anthem.

“I know that the anthem before the start is an incredible moment, and I wanted to be a part of that. I’m hoping that it will actually help to keep me focussed if I am thinking about my singing, rather than being nervous about what the rest of the day will hold.”

Through is training, Phil has been through a myriad of conditions which will stand him in good stead for race day.

“Throughout my training I’ve seen some amazing places and scenery. From training in the North of Scotland, running over hills and cycling some amazing mountains and valleys in the Cairngorms, to closer to home in Milngavie, where I’ve trained in a blizzard, run on snow covered tracks and watched the most glorious sunrises and sunsets.”

“Although I’m planning to race on a TT bike, I wanted a road bike for training, so I built one out of bamboo. Building it left me with a sense of great achievement, and I have painted it in Welsh colours, complete with a dragon on the front, as a tribute to my first Ironman.”

Like Ironman training, Phil has also been preparing for the singing of the anthem – which he will do in a wetsuit. This won’t be too strange for him as he has previously performed wearing a variety of costumes including a giant rabbit suit, a leather and silk ‘damned soul’ costume, a large white sheet that covered his entire head and body, a PVC dress with knee high boots, and also wearing nothing but a pair of briefs.

“The key thing with opera is practising what you will be doing in performance conditions, much like course specific training in triathlon.

“One day, I answered the door to the postman, who had been aware of ‘Mae hen wlad fy nhadau’ wafting down the street, and he was rather taken aback to see that I was wearing my wetsuit at 9.30 am in the morning in my living room.”

Like most first time Ironman athletes, Phil is most looking forward to crossing that famous finish line on the Esplanade.

“While I’m looking forward to leading the anthem, I’m most looking forward to the race itself and the atmosphere in the whole of Pembrokeshire, and the amazing feeling of being in amongst all of it. I know that at the end of a gruelling day, I will relish the chance to prove that I can do it and can call myself an Ironman.”

As part of his journey, Phil is also raising funds for Parkinson’s UK with a goal of over £1000. His uncle and a friend both suffer from the disease and he has pledged to help the organisation continue doing the work they do. His fundraising page is https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/phil-gault.

Nearly 2400 athletes will take on the biggest ever edition of Ironman Wales on Sunday. Pembrokeshire will be welcoming thousands of visitors for the annual triathlon spectacle.

For more information, please visit the event website www.ironman.com/wales.