In a year that sees IRONMAN Australia turn 30 years old, the champions look set to cause a severe case of déjà vu.
Three past men’s champions will be battling it out next month in a bid to become a dual winner of the fourth oldest IRONMAN event in the world.
Australia’s Pete Jacobs (2011) will take on compatriots Paul Ambrose (2012) and Luke Bell (2013) over the challenging Port Macquarie course in the 30th IRONMAN Australia.
The women’s race looks set to be a trans-Tasman battle with 2012 champion Michelle Gailey and last year’s runner-up, fellow Aussie Lisa Marangon taking on Kiwis Melanie Burke, fresh off a third place at IRONMAN New Zealand, and 2011 IRONMAN Western Australia champion Michelle Bremer.
Jacobs has fond memories of IRONMAN Australia, making his age group debut at the event and claiming the 2011 title before going onto win the IRONMAN World Championship in Hawaii the following year.
"Winning here meant one of my biggest dreams came true, racing in Forster as an age grouper in my first IRONMAN created that dream, along with the dream of winning Hawaii," Jacobs says.
"My roots are deep in IRONMAN Australia, and I’m very happy and humbled to be part of the 30th year, not just as a competitor, but also as a small part of its history."
For Bell, IRONMAN Australia is where he made his debut as a professional, and it’s where he claimed his first title 10 years later.
"To be able to win IRONMAN Australia is something that I am very proud of. To win the event in your home country where my own IRONMAN journey started is something that is extremely hard to put into words," he said.
Jacobs, Bell and Ambrose will be challenged by fellow Australians Peter Robertson (Third in 2014 IRONMAN Cairns), Clayton Fettell and Czechoslovakian veteran Petr Vabrousek.
In the women’s race Gailey is focused on adding the 30th anniversary IRONMAN Australia title to her 2012 win.
"It's really exciting to be lining up in the 30th edition of IRONMAN Australia. When I first started triathlon in 2007 this was an event I had my eye on with so many high level professionals kicking off their careers at IRONMAN Australia," she says.
"This will be my 10th IRONMAN and Port Macquarie is one of my favourite courses. It is tough and honest and the atmosphere is amazing."
Her biggest threat will be Marangon, who from the moment she made her debut at IRONMAN Australia in 2003 has dreamt of claiming the title.
"I remember seeing Lisa Bentley win that year and I said I want to be her one day," she said.
Marangon has enjoyed a solid preparation and is looking forward to testing herself on race day.
"I just need to execute the race plan my coach sets me. Deal with anything that is not expected and to race to my ability and beyond," she said.
Professionals compete for P-2000 KPR points and $50,000 prize purse
Male Pro:
1 Pete Jacobs AUS
2 Paul Ambrose AUS
3 Luke Bell AUS
4 Peter Robertson AUS
5 Nick Baldwin SYC
6 Petr Vabrousek CZE
7 Matt Burton AUS
8 Graham O'Grady NZL
9 Carl Read NZL
10 Josef Svoboda CZE
11 Daniel Brown AUS
12 Simon Billeau FRA
13 Brian Fuller AUS
14 Darren Jenkins AUS
15 Lachlan Kerin AUS
16 Luke Martin AUS
17 Dan McGuigan AUS
18 Matt Randall NZL
Female Pro:
21 Lisa Marangon AUS
22 Melanie Burke NZL
23 Michelle Bremer NZL
24 Michelle Gailey AUS
25 Jessica Fleming AUS
26 Michelle Wu AUS
27 Michelle Duffield AUS
28 Christie Sym AUS
29 Caroline Gregory USA
30 Marie Sorrell NZL
31 Marina Jurjevic AUS