Champion ironman Matt Poole reveals comeback plans and why young daughter Posy is his ultimate motivation.
Champion ironman Matt Poole is coming out of retirement two years after he hung up the togs – citing memorable moments with his young daughter as the motivation.
The doting dad to Posy, his daughter with ex-girlfriend and fitness entrepreneur Tammy Hembrow, revealed he has been training for a “full 2024 comeback” after rumours have swirled about a return.
Poole, the 2017 Ironman champion, confirmed that he will line up to try and qualify for the Shaw and Partners Iron series during the first trial round in a fortnight at Tugun.
“I’m a sicko for punishment. I must be because I retired from being a professional athlete, 15 years of doing surf, Iron Man.
I couldn’t stay away from that health and fitness lifestyle. I found myself endurance running and doing marathons.”
When announcing his retirement two years ago, the now 36 year old noted 15 years was a long time to be getting up before 5am for training and cited pending fatherhood ahead of Posy’s birth.
Now she’s become his motivation to return, saying watching female iron athlete Brielle Cooper run with Posy through the start line alongside Gold Coast based Matt Bevilacqua during the Iron series last year planted the seeds of his decision.
“When I retired, truthfully, I thought there is no way I will ever be making a comeback. I’d had a very long and successful career, and I was happy to hang up the togs and move into that next chapter.
“It wasn’t until last year, when we went down to watch Brielle competing and Bevvy in the Iron Man and Woman Series.
“Brielle ran out through that start line at the opening rounds with Posy, carrying her, had all the fans and people there watching. “I thought that’s a moment I didn’t get to do in my career because when I retired, Posy wasn’t born yet.
I retired with her actually not having known anything about who I was or anything about the athlete chapter of my life. I thought, ‘oh wow, I wish I had the opportunity for Posy to see me race’.
“I wish, when I get much older, there were photos of me racing with Posy there.
“We’ve seen guys do that. We’ve seen Shannon Eckstein have those moments. We’ve seen Ali Day do it. I don’t have that so that was a bit of a tough pill to swallow for me.
“It made me upset because I feel like it is such a big part of my identity,” he said.
Poole added returning to coach Nippers was also an important part of deciding to come out of retirement. “I started back here coaching at Tallebudgera Surf Club.
Found myself back on the board, doing some swimming and training with them. One thing led to another and we’ve evolved into a full 2024 comeback.
“When I got back into coaching the Tally Nippers was when I really put the wheels in motion.”
Poole said he hoped to qualify for the Iron series but doesn’t “know what to expect”.
“This is a whole new challenge. These kids now are so fit, they’re so fast. The level of racing has come up a couple of levels.
I don’t know how I’m going to go. I know it is going to be a very hot field.
I’m not in any way putting a target on myself to get back into the series and expect to be getting on podiums. “I’m literally setting the goal of just making the series.
If I do that I’m going to get my fairy tale moment with Posy.
The bucket list goal in all honesty for me is just to make that series and get that moment.”
Article source: Gold Coast Bulletin, 29 October 2024
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