Triathlon Saves Olympian Neil Brooks' life

 

Ironman, Mandurah Triathlon, November 5, 2014: West Australian Olympic Gold medal winning swimmer Neill Brooks credits triathlon with saving his life. The 52 year-old will be on the start line for Sunday’s SunSmart IRONMAN 70.3 Mandurah, just under 60 kilograms lighter than when he started his triathlon career.

Part of the 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal-winning swimming relay team known as the mean machine, there was very little machine about Brooks when he took up swimming again in 2008 in a bid to shed some weight from his 154kg frame.

Before he made it back to the pool he first tried running but struggled to make it 500m, next he tried riding a bike which put less pressure on his joints, but was still a struggle.

“My last resort was to start swimming again, which was incredibly embarrassing being an Olympic Gold medallist having let myself go over the years and turning up to the pool in such poor condition.”

Brooks stuck at it and the weight slowly started to fall off, over the period of a few months he started riding the bike and could eventually jog a kilometre or two.

His first triathlon experience came in the Clydesdale category of the Luke Harrop Memorial sprint race on the Gold Coast, which he won. After that experience he was hooked.

“I raced a few more Clydesdale events before going to age group...triathlon saved my life,” he said.

Brooks is back to his lean swimming physique weighing in at a svelte 92kgs, even representing Australia at the sprint distance World Champions in London last year.

He loves the inclusive nature of triathlon, and the fact that while you are racing people in your age group, you’re really racing yourself.

“I have seen pro athletes go under 4 hours for a half ironman and be totally disappointed in their performance and I've seen an age grouper go 7 hours and have the best day of their life. The great thing about it was they were both out on the same course at the same time, how awesome is that,” he said.

A former elite athlete who knows what it’s like to reach the pinnacle of his chosen sport, Brooks hopes to one day capture another world title.

“A lot of people tell me I'm too big to be any good at 198 cm and at 92 kg particularly for the run leg, but that’s ok I've never really taken too much notice to what other people think.”

Race day will also include over 1500 age group athletes chasing their own personal bests.

Race day will be held on Sunday, 9 November 2014.

For media accreditation and event information visit www.ironmanmandurah.com

For media inquiries contact Daniel Hoy | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | 0455 091 476

SunSmart IRONMAN 70.3 Mandurah is proudly supported by the City of Mandurah, Healthway in promoting the SunSmart message and the State Government through Tourism WA’s Regional Events Program, which is funded by Royalties for Regions.

Issued on behalf of Iroman by
Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia
Media Manager, 2014 Australian Commonwealth Games Team
Deputy Media Manager 2016 Australian Olympic Team
Media Manager 2014 Pan Pacs