NEWS

It’s always been about sport, Leigh Gunn, Grand Final AG athlete

By Courtney Akrigg | 05 Sep, 2018
{article_title}

Leigh Gunn made the switch from soccer to triathlon

(Australia, Queensland, Gold Coast) - Leigh Gunn was a professional soccer player for most of his young adult life, based in Sydney, Australia. His family is from the Philippines therefore he has always felt a close connection with the country.

At the age of eighteen, Leigh went over to the Philippines to play soccer at a national level, where he played and represented for eleven years.

“I grew up in Sydney. My Mum is from the Philippines which is how I am representing the National team for triathlon. I started playing soccer when I was five and when I turned eighteen, I went over to the Philippines and got into the National soccer team and played with them for eleven years. It’s always been about sport, Gunn said.”

Why triathlon?
“My parents used to holiday in Noosa, Queensland, every year growing up as a kid. I always said I would stop soccer when I got seriously injured and that happened,” added Gunn.

Injury occurred and after thirty-three years of playing, Gunn passed the ball and finished his soccer career.

“Coming here, to Noosa, on holiday and seeing the Noosa Triathlon transition area set up really got me thinking about it. I have always ridden bikes socially with friends at school and I have always wanted to get into cycling. I knew I could run because of soccer but the swim scared the hell out of me. I saw that as a challenge. It scared me every time I jumped in the water.”

“Straight away I felt something with the sport and that inner drive to push as hard and as far as I can.”

A few years down the track, Gunn has set up life in Noosa, centred around his family and the sport of triathlon.

Gunn is proud to claim that he has qualified to represent Philippines, for the sport of triathlon, and will be lining up for the upcoming 2018 World Triathlon Grand Final on the Gold Coast.

 

Now married and with a young family, Gunn packed up life in Sydney and moved to Noosa, the place he claims epitomises the lifestyle his family loves.

“Being three different disciplines, you can excel in one and work at the others to get through. It keeps you healthy and your mind active. When I moved here I didn’t know anyone and now everyone I know is through triathlon. All of our social network is involved in the sport, it’s awesome.”

“I am super motivated ahead of the Grand Final. It’s starting to hit home now and the training is becoming specific to the event and it’s just down the road so I don’t need to worry about jetlag or acclimatising.”

“I have three girls – aged 5, 4 and 4 months. They definitely know what I am up to and sometimes I drag them along to the running sessions and they have a bit of a play. They’re getting into it as well, they do swimming. They see me get up early in the morning and want to know where I am going. They will be there on race day supporting and cheering me on which means everything.

“It’s one of the highest honours in the sport, I believe, to represent your country.”

“To have a race plan and to stick to the plan. The hard work is done prior to that. It’s about enjoying the day.”

It’s time to gear up for World Triathlon action Queensland, Australia, as triathletes, sports fans and the wider community ride the wave to the World Triathlon Grand Final start line.

TRIATHLON LIVE
AG, Junior, U23, and Para races will be streamed for free to https://triathlonlive.tv/goldcoast and to the World Triathlon Facebook page.
The Elite races will be streamed to members with a subscription to https://triathlonlive.tv/live
ITU World Triathlon Series Rankings 2018
ITU World Triathlon Grand Final, Gold Coast, Event Schedule
ITU World Triathlon Grand Final, Gold Coast, Course Maps

The Queensland Government, via Tourism and Events Queensland, is proud to support the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final which features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar. Your perfect next event is in Queensland where live events combine with the most incredible destinations, and life is beautiful one day, perfect the next.

 

Related Event: 2018 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Gold Coast
12 - Sep, 2018 • event pageall results
Results: Elite Men
1. Vincent Luis FRA 01:44:34
2. Mario Mola ESP 01:44:48
3. Richard Murray RSA 01:44:56
4. Pierre Le Corre FRA 01:45:01
5. Kristian Blummenfelt NOR 01:45:04
6. Henri Schoeman RSA 01:45:06
7. Jacob Birtwhistle AUS 01:45:46
8. Jonathan Brownlee GBR 01:45:51
9. Marten Van Riel BEL 01:45:56
10. Tyler Mislawchuk CAN 01:45:57
Results: Elite Women
1. Ashleigh Gentle AUS 01:52:00
2. Vicky Holland GBR 01:52:02
3. Katie Zaferes USA 01:52:33
4. Laura Lindemann GER 01:52:53
5. Kirsten Kasper USA 01:53:15
6. Melanie Santos POR 01:53:26
7. Taylor Spivey USA 01:53:28
8. Georgia Taylor-Brown GBR 01:53:31
9. Leonie Periault FRA 01:53:33
10. Jodie Stimpson GBR 01:53:41
Results: U23 Men
1. Tayler Reid NZL 01:44:08
2. Samuel Dickinson GBR 01:44:20
3. Bence Bicsák HUN 01:44:31
4. Léo Bergere FRA 01:44:39
5. Jørgen Gundersen NOR 01:44:44
6. Lasse Lührs GER 01:44:47
7. Gabriel Allgayer GER 01:45:19
8. Antonio Serrat Seoane ESP 01:45:32
9. Hayden Wilde NZL 01:45:38
10. Alex Yee GBR 01:45:41
Results: U23 Women
1. Taylor Knibb USA 01:53:47
2. Cassandre Beaugrand FRA 01:55:22
3. Angelica Olmo ITA 01:56:39
4. Nicole Van Der Kaay NZL 01:57:02
5. Erika Ackerlund USA 01:57:18
6. Sandra Dodet FRA 01:57:32
7. Jaz Hedgeland AUS 01:57:39
8. Yuliya Golofeeva RUS 01:57:51
9. Sophie Linn AUS 01:58:01
10. Nina Eim GER 01:58:25
Results: Junior Men
1. Csongor Lehmann HUN 00:52:49
2. Paul Georgenthum FRA 00:53:12
3. Philipp Wiewald GER 00:53:14
4. Boris Pierre FRA 00:53:20
5. Lorcan Redmond AUS 00:53:22
6. Oscar Coggins HKG 00:53:37
7. Vetle Bergsvik Thorn NOR 00:53:39
8. Pavlos Antoniades CAN 00:53:40
9. Vasco Vilaca POR 00:53:50
10. Saxon Morgan NZL 00:53:54
Results: Junior Women
1. Cecilia Sayuri Ramirez Alavez MEX 00:59:11
2. Erin Wallace GBR 00:59:23
3. Kate Waugh GBR 00:59:34
4. Pauline Landron FRA 00:59:46
5. Romy Wolstencroft AUS 00:59:51
6. Magdalena Früh AUT 01:00:03
7. Jessica Fullagar FRA 01:00:08
8. Desirae Ridenour CAN 01:00:10
9. Quinty Schoens NED 01:00:12
10. Celia Merle FRA 01:00:16