South Australia’s Isaac Heyne devotes emotional athletics victory to his mum

When Adelaide’s Isaac Heyne crossed the 5000m finish line first at a national athletics meet this week, he did so with the last words his mum wrote to him tattooed above his heart — the win leaving barely a dry eye.

Isaac Heyne celebrates winning the U20 Mens 5000m final during the Australian Track and Field Championships at Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre. Picture: Getty Images)

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When Adelaide’s Isaac Heyne crossed the 5000m finish line first at a national athletics meet this week, he did so with the last words his mum wrote to him tattooed above his heart — the win leaving barely a dry eye trackside.

The 19-year-old crowd favourite ran the race covered in dozens of temporary tattoos in honour of his mum, Sonja, who died aged 45 from cancer in 2015, tragically soon after diagnosis.

“Mum had beaten a melanoma in 2009 but the cancer reappeared six years later and when it came back she deteriorated very quickly and we lost her within months,” he says.

Isaac Heyne covered in temporary tattoos in honour of his mum who died of cancer. Picture: Matt Turner

Heyne set up a fundraiser ahead of the 2019 Australian Track and Field Championships, promising supporters he’d wear a tattoo of their choice, if they donated to the Cancer Council.

“My original goal was $500 … but it just sort of blew up and instead of 10 tattoos I ended up with more than 40, I had a photo of one of my friend’s dogs, my mum’s profile picture, people’s favourite emojis as well as lots of running and footy clubs — whatever people wanted,” says the former Torrens Valley Christian School student.

His dad Nick, who now lives in Tasmania with Heyne’s two younger siblings, Ben, 17, and Aneka, 15, wrote next to his family’s donation: “Great stuff Isaac. A mighty Collingwood Magpie on your calf would be great. Love you, Dad xx.”

Heyne says anything he can do to help raise money for cancer research is worthwhile.

“My view is, if I have a chance to create a bit of change, I want to do that,” he says.

The tattoo he chose for himself included words from the last letter his mum wrote to him.

“It pretty much goes along the lines, ‘I wish I didn’t have to write a letter like this … but I am thankful I have the time to write (it). Keep doing what you have been doing, you are committed enough that whatever you set your mind to, you will make it work’,” he says.

Heyne, who is in his second year studying physiotherapy at Uni SA — his mum was also a physiotherapist — says he gains strength from his mum’s words and in her memory.

Isaac Heyne (back left) with his mum, Sonja, and dad, Nick, and siblings Aneka and Ben — picture supplied by family

“Each race I do, on the start line I cross my heart, and just give her a brief thought, I have done that every race for the last three years … for this race, I placed the tattoo containing her words over my heart,” he says.

“I remember how in the last week before she died, Dad and her sisters took her for a walk around the block and she asked to get out of her wheelchair — she got out and walked back to the hospice, she’d been bed-bound and hadn’t walked in ages … that is more inspirational to me, than me running around a track.”

Heyne says he has found solace in running.

“When mum died, and for the first year after that, really, running was the way I dealt with it, when I run, I don’t think of anything, I just have such a clear head … running is the time I can just zone out,” he says.

Heyne, a member of the Pembroke Athletics Club representing Athletics SA, won with a personal best time of 14:30.99 at the week-long event which finishes today, held at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre.

Champion: Isaac Heyne. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

His coach of six years, Peter Deane, says the win was made sweeter as Heyne has recently overcome an injury which had stopped him running just six months ago.

“I thought top three would be very good but to actually win was a super bonus … one of my colleagues said (Friday night) was the most animated he has ever seen me,” he says.

“Certainly, emotionally, it was a super buzz … I’ve been coaching for 30-odd years and this will go down as among the top two or three moments in my career.”

Athletics SA co-ordinator Andy Crawford, travelling with the team, agrees.

“(Watching Heyne win) with his arms outstretched was a pretty special moment … I think there were a few people blaming (their tears) on the rain,” he says.

Heyne’s proud dad watched the race on livesteam, from Tasmania.

“He was absolutely stoked, I think he was more excited than me … he always gets a bit excited, so it is probably best he wasn’t at the track because he’d put me off,” Heyne laughs.

And what would his mum have likely said?

“She would have been quietly proud but I don’t think she’d have said a lot … just, ‘don’t overdo it, keep a level head,’ I reckon,” he says.

Heyne’s win qualifies him to compete in the Oceania Games in Townsville in June — his ultimate dream is to one day represent Australia at a Commonwealth or Olympic Games.