Chris Lieto

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**Chris Lieto**

Country	USA
Club	Astavita, Speedo, Powerbar
Date of birth	February 7, 1972 (1972-02-07) (age 36)
Place of birth	Redbank, New Jersey, USA
Height	6'0"
Weight	160lbs
Turned Pro	2000
Personal Best	8:25:49, 2007^[1]
Titles
Highest World Ranking:	6th - 2007 Ironman Triathlon World Championship

Chris Lieto born February 7, 1972 in Redbank, New Jersey^[2], is a professional triathlete and the winner of the 2006 Ironman Japan, 2005 Ironman Canada, and 2002 Ironman Wisconsin triathlons^[3].

Chris grew up in Danville, California and later began his athletic career playing collegiate water polo at Long Beach State University. In 1997, he saw the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon World Championship on television and decided to participate in his first triathlon ever, which he won. Only three years later he became a professional triathlete. Just another three years after that, in 2003, he went on to place 13th at that same championship he saw on television which sparked his interest in the sport. He currently resides in California with his wife Karis and son Kaiden.^[4]

After a disappointing race career in 2005, Chris chose to return to work as a mortgage broker while still continuing to train. Chris said that returning to work "...helped me balance the time and focus I put into triathlon. I still focus on training, but without the endless thinking about the next race or the next training day. It allows me to be a little more relaxed in my preparation for a race."^[5] Since 2003, Chris has steadily worked up his finishing place at the Hawaii championship: 13th in 2003, 18th in 2005, 9th in 2006, and 6th in 2007. He is the current bike course record holder for the 2005 Ironman Canada, with a time of 4:25:26.^[6] Astavita, producer of the dietary supplement astaxanthin, is Lieto's primary sponsor. Lieto says taking astaxanthin helps prevent muscle fatigue after workouts, allowing him to have more effective training and thus increasing his strength and endurance without the use of dangerous and illegal performance enhancing drugs. Chris enjoys surfing and says his favorite workout music is Eminem.^[7]