Ironwoman grows in confidence ahead of race series

RACING as a professional ironwoman for a fifth straight year has Lily O’Sullivan dreaming of finding her way on the podium in the Shaw and Partners Iron Series.

The 21-year-old has raced against the biggest names in the sport since joining the series as a teenager.

She requalified at the recent trials after a string of strong performances at the two-day event on the Gold Coast.

O’Sullivan is a product of the Cudgen surf lifesaving club, which she credits as a turning point that helped her find a love of the sport.

“I wasn’t really into nippers, but my parents wanted me to stay in it when we moved to Casuarina when I was 12,” she said.

“I went to Cudgen and there was a group of about eight to ten girls in my age group who loved training and hanging out on the weekends.

“I started training properly and it was a real turning point for me where I loved being part of a great squad.

“It was a real family friendly community. They train hard at Cudgen, but they also have fun, which makes a big difference.”

O’Sullivan now represents the Burleigh Heads/Mowbray Park club on the Gold Coast where she has won world championship events in the female swim and board race.

She works part time as a teachers aid at Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School at Tweed and does some lifeguard work on the Gold Coast.

She travels and trains each day of the week in preparation for events in the Shaw and Partners Iron Series, previously the Nutri-Grain Series.

“When I first started, I was racing against Courtney Hancock, Georgia Miller and Harriet Brown, who were my idols,” O’Sullivan said.

“It was daunting at the time and it’s wild to think I’ve already been part of it for five years now.

“I’d love to get on the podium this series. Even with experience it never gets any easier.

“Everyone is hungry for it — you can make a mistake and finish last.

“There is pressure with crowds and television; everything seems to go up a gear.

“You have to put a lot of extra work to perform well in the series.”

O’Sullivan will compete in the Coolangatta Gold which will be held on October 18-19 with the next iron series event at Newcastle in December.