Ironman Leech to return to Coolangatta Gold to celebrate 30 years for iconic race

Surf Life Saving Australia, June 12, 2014:Original Coolangatta Gold Ironman champion Guy Leech will return to the Gold Coast this year to celebrate the 30^th anniversary of his historic victory in 1984.

Leech, now 49, will team up with a hand-picked team of former champions to re-trace the footsteps of a race that transformed Ironman racing and launched his career.

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This year’s Coolangatta Gold will be held on the weekend of November 1 and 2 and will cater for Elite Men and Women; Under 19s, Masters and Teams.

Early bird entries are now open at www.sls.com.au/coolangattagold.

Leech, who has never stopped training and has made a living out of the fitness business, was an Ironman rookie in 1984.

“It’s hard to believe it’s 30 years,” said Leech, who will do the final run leg for his team into Coolangatta.

“We had no real idea what we were getting ourselves in for back then – it was certainly a case of unchartered waters, but it will be fun to go back to the Gold Coast and team up with the boys and get into the swing of the race again.

“I think it’s great to have the teams races included in the Coolangatta Gold– it is a way of putting your toe in the water so to speak.

“I certainly encourage any Ironmen young and old to start training for the Coolangatta Gold and if you can’t do it individually then put a team together – it will be an experience you’ll never forget,” he said.

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The race will mark three decades since a fearless group of young Australian surf lifesavers lined up for a five hour race into unknown territory - an Ironman race from Surfers Paradise to Coolangatta and back.

It would test their skills in surf ski and board paddling, running and swimming and also create a backdrop for a movie of the same name.

A race that would see arduous personal battles of survival on a day that would capture the imagination of a sporting nation – a race originally known as the Coolangatta Gold Tri-Aquathon.

Leech was a relative unknown when he embarked on what was hailed as Ironman racing’s holy grail – on a day that attracted over 20,000 people to Surfers Paradise.

The beach was transformed in to a massive movie set and a stage that would greet the ironmen back from their five hour trek in and out of the water.

It has grown enormously over the past three decades with the Coolangatta Gold now staged over a weekend with the traditional long course race now from Coolangatta to Broadbeach and return over 41.8km on the Sunday after the popular short course event over 32.4km on Saturday – for both men and women.

Ever since that first year in 1984, thousands of Australians and international competitors have conquered the iconic race and this year hundreds more will line up to tick off the toughest endurance ironman event from their bucket lists – others will return for another crack at the test of the toughest.

Surf Life Saving Australia, Capacity and Capability General Manager, Kitty Chiller today encouraged those up for the challenge, both individuals and teams, to get training, enter now and take advantage of the Special Early Bird Discounts by the end of July.

“Come and join our first ever winner from 1984, Guy Leech and his team as they celebrate the 30^th anniversary of the iconic first event,” Miss Chiller said.

“The historic 2013 Coolangatta Gold saw the crowning of our first ever Female long course champion and the highest ever winning prize purse of $25,000 for the Open Male and Open Female winners.

“Competitor numbers continue to grow each year, and we expect 500 starters for 2014,” Miss Chiller said.

Join the conversation at #cooliegold @SLS_Online and for more information or to enter, please visit www.sls.com.au/coolangattagold

The Coolangatta Gold is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland as part of a growing calendar of sporting, cultural, business and regional events across the state.

Issued on behalf of Surf Life Saving Australia
Hanson Media Group

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