#knowyourbenoni – How Benoni’s Ironman overcame a brain tumour
He said people from the East Rand are "solid people".
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2018/04/DSC_3093_20532.jpg)
Despite the challenges he has had to face, Farrarmere resident Kristian Fesel keeps a positive attitude.
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Fesel is one of only eight athletes to complete all 14 consecutive South African Ironman triathlons.
Three years ago he had major brain surgery to remove a tumour.
Fesel spoke to the City Times about how his fitness saved his life and why he remains positive.
BCT: Tell us about how you came to Benoni.
KF: I was born in Manchester in the UK.
At a young age my father, Arthur Fesel, moved to South Africa for work.
I attended Dinwiddie Primary School and Boksburg High School.
After school, I joined the army and spent one year in the air force in Pretoria.
I moved to Benoni about nine years ago and have loved every moment here.
I now work at Woodlands International College.
BCT: Tell us about your family.
KF: My wife’s name is Renate and we’ve been married for almost 13 years.
We have a daughter, Madison (10) and a son, Aiden (8).
BCT: You compete in Ironman triathlons. What is it like?
KF: I have done all the Ironman triathlons since the sport came to South Africa in 2004.
I train year-round, though a little less during winter months.
Ironman is a 3.8km swim, 180km cycle ride and a 42km marathon.
I just completed the last one on April 14.
I am doing the Ironman half-triathlon in Durban in August.
I have been to the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii and the Ironman Half-Wold Championships in Australia before.
BCT: You had a tumour removed three years ago. How did this impact your fitness?
KF: I had a light stroke and my wife phoned an ambulance.
I had a brain tumour the size of a snooker ball.
A neurosurgeon removed the tumour. I spent one day in ICU and one day in a general ward before I went home.
Twelve weeks after that I completed an Ironman triathlon.
BCT: How has your fitness helped you through this?
KF: The doctor said my strength and health helped me make a full recovery.
I don’t know what would’ve happened if I had been a couch potato.
I keep a positive attitude in life.
I have beers with friends, eat a balanced diet and enjoy what I do.
I think there is more to life than eating salad and drinking protein shakes.
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