ZANE HOLMES RETIRES FROM IRONMAN RACING

AUSTRALIAN SURF LIFE SAVING, August 16, 2012: Zane Holmes, one of Surf Life Savings greatest ironmen and surf sports competitors, has today announced his retirement from the sport, at the age of 31.

Holmes said his chronic back injury and the recent arrival of his twin daughters were the telling factors in “the biggest decision of my life.”
 
After spending 2011 on the sidelines with the back problems, Holmes returned to the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Series last season, with a stirring victory in big seas at Newcastle, but the injury again forced him out of the Queensland and Australian Championships.

 
The man who has won every major ironman race there is to win – from the World Championship (twice), the Australian Championship, five Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Series crowns, the Coolangatta Gold and six Queensland titles.
 
In fact he is the only competitor ever to win the World, Australian, Queensland, Nutri-Grain Series and the Coolangatta Gold.
 
Holmes has also represented Australia on 12 occasions and has been one of the sport’s true ambassadors in what has been a glittering career, following in the footsteps of his late father John, himself a great Australian champion and alongside his sisters, Australian champions and Australian representatives Kirsty and Denby.
 
The Holmes name will now be mentioned alongside the best of the best who have retired from the sport – names like Trevor Hendy, Grant Kenny and Darren and Dean Mercer, who have all etched their names into the annals of Ironman racing.
 
Holmes has also been an intricate member of the Northcliffe Surf Club – and has won Australian Taplin, surf, ski and board relay teams at the Aussies after transferring from Kawana on the Sunshine Coast, where he first made a name for himself.
 
“Retiring from the sport that has been such a major part of my life was the toughest decision I have ever had to make but it happens to all elite sportsmen and it probably wasn’t the ideal way to bow out but I had no alternative,” said Holmes.
 
“I had started training and my back was giving me grief and I just knew I could not give 100 percent and with the arrival of the twins I knew it was time to call it a day.
 
“To stay at the top you have to be totally committed and my injury just would not allow me to do that.
 
“I am now relieved that I have made the decision and told everyone - it is time for the next stage of my life.”
 
Holmes is the owner of Dolphin Surf Craft and will continue to play a major part in the development of the sport and rest assured the Holmes twin girls will start their nipper careers in five years time.