WALKER A TRUE INSPIRATION FOR nib COOLANGATTA GOLD

September 9: There is probably no more an inspirational surf sports athlete than Chris Walker lining up for his third nib Coolangatta Gold on October 18 - Australia's iconic Ironman race from Surfers Paradise to Coolangatta and return - the race made famous by Guy Leech in 1984 and 1985.

Walker, at 39, continues to overcome major setbacks in his life - setbacks which would have stopped any other mere mortal - and he represents this year's event catch cry "Can Overcome" - to a tee.

He underwent surgery to remove a tumor from his jaw at aged 21 and the ensuing rounds of radiotherapy and chemotherapy followed after having his top and bottom jaws operated on and his teeth removed.

He then suffered a serious knee injury (fractured patella and torn tendons) in a car accident which saw him unable to walk for six years without the aid of crutches or a walking stick.

Just when things started to look up and he was getting back to some kind of fitness he suffered a broken ankle in three places as he prepared for the 2004 Gold Coast Marathon.

But none of that could stop Chris Walker.

The former apprentice chef has since completed five Gold Coast Marathons and last year contested his second nib Coolangatta Gold in 5 hours 45 minutes and 29 seconds. He has improved his Marathon time every year from 3 hrs 17 mins in 2005 to two hours 53 minutes in 2009.

The man who joined the Yamba Surf Life Saving Club on the NSW north coast as a teenager before moving to Canberra and on to Victoria, spent much of his life in and out of hospitals having grafts to rebuild his mouth and his knee. {youtube}rHeNlHZAkCA{/youtube}

In fact he is still undergoing surgery as doctors and dentists continue to re-build the bridge for his teeth and goes into hospital this Thursday (September 10) for day surgery.

An inspiration to everyone at Burleigh Heads-Mowbray Park, the popular Surf Sports director will line up for his third Coolangatta Gold alongside two of the club's emerging 19-year-olds, Josh Yates and Mitch Mullen.

Chris says his wife Kristina and his two children, James, 12 and Mikayla 10 are his inspiration.