MULTI-SPORT MIGHTY MOUSE INDUCTED INTO SPORT AUSTRALIA HALL OF FAME

Triathlon October 18. Accomplished American triathlon writer and photographer Timothy Carlson probably sums up Greg Welch the best.

The respected US triathlon aficionado with Inside Triathlon wrote this glowing tribute when the man who is legendary in Australian sporting folklore for his extraordinary efforts in putting the sport of triathlon on the map, retired in 2000.

“He was the heart of our sport. Talented, generous, spirited, personable, the diminutive Aussie was able to leap from sprint races to Ironman in a single bound, unfailingly positive. He was a multi-sport Mighty Mouse ready to save the day.

“So when he sat in front of a microphone in San Diego on January 11 (2000) to tell us, in a voice at time quavering with emotion, how close to death he had been with a heart gone haywire, it sent off powerful shock waves throughout sports.

“The news of his retirement at the age of 35 stunned fans as much as Lance Armstrong’s battle with cancer. Until he was diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia, Greg Welch only seemed like he was living at 300 beats per minute.”

And you can see why those words sit proudly at the bottom of Greg Welch’s website , words that sum up to a tee the boy born in Sydney’s inner-city Campsie who would go on to conquer the triathlon world.

It cuts to the heart of a man who just a week after fellow Australian Craig Alexander smashed the Hawaiian Triathlon World Ironman Championship record at Kona, fittingly became the first Australian triathlete inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Australia’s Federal Minister for Sport Mark Arbib recognised Welch and six other new inductees into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame at its annual dinner on October 13.
 
Welch joined new inductees, Layne Beachley (surfing), Belinda Clark and Glenn McGrath (cricket), Kostya Tszyu (boxing), Judy Joy Davies (media) and Lorraine Landon (basketball administration), joining 503 other members.
 
Minister Arbib paid tribute to the new inductees and the roles they played in Australia’s sporting history, saying: “The Sports Australia Hall of Fame gives us the opportunity to acknowledge our greatest sporting champions.
 
“The seven new inductees have all contributed magnificently to Australian sport and fully deserve their recognition.”

Welch is to triathlon as Bradman was to cricket, Freddie Lane to swimming, Edwin Flack to athletics, “Dally” Messenger to rugby league, Johnny Warren to football and Ted Whitten to Australian Football – trailblazers in their chosen fields, at different times and for different reasons.

And the man who has conquered all there is to conquer in triathlon and life did it all for his sport.

Herald Sun sportswriter Ron Reed wrote how Welch was immensely chuffed (with his induction) - not just for himself but because he believes it is "a great leap forward" for triathlon.

"For 25 years Australia has been the best triathlete nation, more world titles than any other country," Welch told Reed.

And Alexander was also quick to give Welch his seal of approval as well.

“If anyone deserves it Welchy does,” said Alexander, the first Australian to win Hawaii three times, and someone destined to continue to follow in Welch’s footsteps.

“It’s great for him and great for the sport and my congratulations go out to him for what is a fitting honour.”

Both Welch and Alexander are out of the old school – they both know the value of a sport which has seen Australia at the cutting edge on so many levels for so many years.

Welsh has been to the forefront, winning everything there has been to win in a glittering career that spanned over two decades.

He led the way, winning four world championships in different disciplines –ITU Olympic distance triathlon (1990), Duathlon (1993), Ironman Triathlon (1994) and Long-Distance Triathlon (1996)

In a career of firsts he became first Australian to win the famous Hawaiian Ironman Triathlon in 1994 after doctors had told him he would never walk again after he suffered a broken knee in 1993 from a horrific bike crash.

Two specialists told him his career was over. Not giving up, a third gave him a glimmer of hope – no operation – just hours of special rehab and that’s all Welch needed.

He was determined to walk down the aisle on his wedding day to wife Sian and he threw away the crutches and six months later achieved what no other Australian had ever done when he conquered Kona in an extraordinary achievement.

Welch kept six time winner, American great Dave Scott at bay to put himself into the Hawaiian Triathlon Hall of Fame in an amazing victory.

That steely determination and drive that is in-built in the eight-cylinder Welch motor had arrived in a major way and two years later , in Muncie, Indiana, he went on to become the first Australian to add the ITU Long Distance Triathlon to his list of achievement.

All that remained was an Olympic berth in his home city of Sydney in 2000 when “his sport” was to make its debut on the world’s greatest sporting stage.

But just 11 days into the new Millennium Welch announced to the world that his career was over. His heart had told him it was time and just three months after his miraculous survival of the 1999 Hawaiian Triathlon, he announced his retirement.

Welch told Reed that he remembers the 1999 version of Hawaii just as vividly as his 1994 victory, but for different reasons.

Leading midway through the swim, his body went numb and his heart rate leapt to 320 (bpm), enough to kill people less fit.

The energy drained rapidly and he was gasping for breath so he relaxed, swam backstroke and got going again.

But through the swim, the bike ride and the 42kilometre marathon Welch had 18 cardiac arrests but, amazingly, finished 11th.

He ran the fastest marathon of the day, despite being forced to rest three times.

"It was really crazy but I did it," Welch said.

Soon afterwards he was diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia, which forced him to quit the sport just as he was about to start favourite for the Sydney Olympics……

It was devastating at the time but he looks back now and says: "It would have been wonderful to compete in my home town but it didn't happen so it's not a problem.

"I retired as No.1 in the world, so that was nice to go out with. And I did everything else -- so much more than I ever thought I would do. How can I be disappointed with that?"

All that surgery was daunting mentally and physically, he told Reed, especially when the last one -- six years ago -- went awry and had to be started again.

It has left him on life-long heavy medication and with a defibrillator that "kicks you in the chest like Phar Lap from close range" with 800 volts if his heart loses rhythm and pressure.

Welch remains involved in triathlon, living in San Diego with his wife Sian -  a former triathlete - and daughters Annie and Emma. He works as a TV commentator and athlete adviser and as an international marketing manager for Oakley sunglasses.

Australia’s multi-sport Mighty Mouse who rightly deserves his induction as the first Triathlete into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. - Ian Hanson.