Amputee seeks Ironman redemption after heartbreak

In the post-midnight darkness near the lava fields of Kona, Hawaii, Jason Gunter could move forward no more.

Every day since collapsing about four miles from the finish line Oct. 10, 2009, at the Ironman World Championship, the Fort Myers double amputee and attorney has plotted and prepared for redemption.

For the first five years, the unlikeliest of Ironmen would log onto the 140.6-mile race's website in early April. He would survey the five winners of the triathlon's physically-challenged lottery, of which there were 25 to 30 entrants. He would not see his name.

This April, Gunter did not even bother to look. And then the text messages on his phone started flashing.

"I know right away what they were about," Gunter said. "I knew I had a monumental task in front of me."

Gunter, 50, said this will be his second and last attempt to conquer Kona, the world's most famous triathlon.

On Saturday, Oct. 10, the Fort Myers resident will get his second shot at swimming 2.4 miles in Kailua Bay. Then he must bike 112 miles, including a Queen Kaahumanu Highway stretch across 95-plus degree lava fields with crosswinds of up to 45 miles per hour. Then he must run the marathon distance of 26.2 miles, also in extreme heat and humidity.

"I don't like to fail at anything," Gunter said. "So it's important to me to finish this. Kona has taken down athletes who are much better than me. There are no guarantees. Even now."

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