These pictures show what it meant to Gareth Thomas to cross the Ironman Wales finish line just short of 24 hours after he revealed to the world he was living with HIV.
The former Welsh international, widely known as Alfie, had been cheered all day by his husband, parents and the large crowds who had gathered in Tenby to offer their support.
Earlier in the day, as he set off on his run, the final part of the gruelling race, he broke down in tears when he saw his husband, Stephen, and other members of his family at the side of the road.
He continued with the run, but still struggled to contain the emotion after leaving his family to carry on with the race.
Gareth and Stephen have been together for more than four years and married in 2016. They live together near Bridgend.
Gareth, who captained Wales and has 100 caps, revealed on Saturday night he is HIV positive. The next day he completed the Ironman Wales course, which consists of a 2.4-mile sea swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run.
Thomas says he has kept the diagnosis a secret for years since it was revealed to him during a routine health check. He had no idea the diagnosis was coming and described it as "being hit by a 300-mile-an-hour train without expecting it".
He said his thoughts immediately turned to death, darkness and how he would be able to carry on living. He lived in fear of not being in control of his own life and of people who knew revealing "the secret that you're holding".
He said that led him to think of taking his own life.
He also described being threatened by blackmailers as he tried to keep his HIV diagnosis secret from family and friends.
The former Welsh international says it forced him to break the news about his illness to his mum and dad – the hardest thing he says he has ever had to do.
He said the threats put him in “the darkest place ever” but also said he is now happily married to Stephen.
Gareth Thomas reveals he has HIV
