Triathlon triumph for delighted J-Lo
WHO’S the sporty young woman with the big smile and un-made up face?
It’s pop diva Jennifer Lopez as you’ve never seen her before.
J-Lo, usually pictured looking polished and poised in a designer gown and perfect hair, was unrecognisable as she staggered out of the ocean in a wetsuit, tired but happy.
The star was taking part in a triathlon at the weekend to raise cash for a children’s cancer ward.
And Jennifer, 39, has rarely looked more beautiful than she did punching the Californian air in triumph as she crossed the finish line, having raised more than £70,000.
As if that wasn’t impressive enough, the half-mile ocean swim, 18-mile bike ride and four-mile run for the Nautica Malibu race came just seven months after she gave birth to twins.
The curvaceous singer and actress finished in an impressive two hours 23 minutes and 38 seconds.
Thanking the cheering crowd, she said: “Thank you guys so much. This is an amazing day. I feel really great and so glad I finished and that I made it out of the water.”
The exhausted star then retreated to the VIP tent to congratulate her Wedding Planner co-star Matthew McConaughey, who had finished the race in one hour 30 minutes and 44.7 seconds.
J-Lo was inspired to take part in the endurance race – her first triathlon – while heavily pregnant with twins Max and Emme, who were born in February. “I was beached like a whale,” she said last month.
“I was watching TV and I saw a triathlon and I said, ‘You know what, I think I could do that. That would be great for me. Maybe I’ll do it this year.’”
She installed a £28,000 gym in her home and enlisted the help of trainer to the stars Gunnar Peterson, who also works with Penelope Cruz.
Never one to shy away from an entourage, Lopez was accompanied by Peterson, her sister, an assistant and several bodyguards along the course.
And waiting for her at the end was her singer husband, Marc Anthony.
After the race, the couple jetted off to New York for Marc’s 40th birthday party. J-Lo was back to her usual elegant self in a floor-length ivory strapless gown.
But now we know that, even without the help of designers and stylists, Jennifer really is a true winner.
