Grant Kenny allegedly assaulted by Sunshine Coast businessman

New details have emerged of an alleged assault where a Sunshine Coast man is accused of putting ironman legend Grant Kenny in a chokehold.

Sunshine Coast ironman legend Grant Kenny was allegedly put in a chokehold and pulled to the ground in a violent assault.

Sunshine Coast CIB officer-in-charge Craig Mansfield said police would allege the victim, believed to be Kenny, was trying to close a roller door when Marshall Horne allegedly put him in a chokehold and pulled him to the ground.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mansfield said the allegations suggested the alleged victim had got his hand stuck in a chain mechanism.

He described the incident as a “wrestle”.

Horne, of Diddillibah on the Sunshine Coast, faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Thursday for one count of assault occasioning bodily harm in Kunda Park on October 28.

Horne did not enter a plea to the charge and his matters were adjourned to December 2.

Despite his sporting and business success, Kenny is well known on the Sunshine Coast for keeping a low public profile.

He’s well regarded in Surf Life Saving circles and is regularly seen on Coast beaches supporting young life savers and watching his own children in action.

Kenny made headlines in 1980 when at just 16 he won the Australian Junior and Open Iron Man Championships on the same day.

He followed that up with wins in The Australian Open Ironman titles the following three years.

Kenny became a household name as the face of Kelloggs Nutri-Grain, appearing in TV commercials for the cereal.

He married Australian Commonwealth swimming champion Lisa Curry-Kenny in 1986 and they had three children, Jaimi, Morgan and Jett.

Tragically, Jaimi died in September 2020, aged 33, after a long illness.

Kenny was contacted, but declined to comment and several attempts have been made to contact Horne.