Nutri-Grain iron series: Courtney Hancock fill-in Analise Kibble's dress rehearsal to be an ironwoman

There was no doubting what Analise Kibble wanted to be in the future when she dressed up as an iron woman on career day at school when just 12. Now it’s about to happen for real.

Analise Kibble is taking the place of Courtney Hancock in the series.

Analise Kibble dressed up in her swimmers, rash top and took her Nippers board to school on a career day when she was 12, leaving no one in any doubt what she wanted to be when she grew up.

Now six years on the medical science student is about to realise a childhood dream and it’s all thanks to a woman she has watched for years and has been inspired by in Courtney Hancock.

Hancock made the shock move of withdrawing from this season’s Nutri-Grain series last Thursday but took time out to ring Kibble personally to tell her the news she had been awarded a wildcard spot.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be doing a full series,’’ said Kibble who finished 11th in the trials and had her “fingers crossed” shje might get to do one event as an injury replacement.

“Then Courtney face timed me on Lizzie Welborn’s phone. Lizzie just handed me her phone and I saw her face and I was in a bit of shock.

Analise Kibble is taking the place of Courtney Hancock in the series.

Analise Kibble is taking the place of Courtney Hancock in the series.

“I couldn’t speak and then she told me and everyone just started screaming.”

Kibble and the champion ironwoman, part of the TV commentary team for the season, will meet ahead of the opening rounds of the series at Manly this Saturday and Sunday.

And the 18-year-old Kibble from the Newport surf life saving club on Sydney’s northern beaches won’t hesitate to pump the iron legend for information and tips ahead of her first race in the professional series boasting the top 20 female surf stars in the country.

A young Courtney Hancock in the series.

“It’s going to be amazing to be able to ask her things,’’ said Kibble, a medical services student at Macquarie University.

“ I’ve followed her for so long. She’s an icon in the sport and everyone admires her.

“I don’t really know what I don’t know so I’ve got so many questions about nutrition, refuelling, that sort of thing.

“There’s two rounds a weekend so I really need to learn how to block things out and reset.

“She will have great insights and things like that.”

Courtney Hancock is recently married and has put a pause on her surf career.

Kibble competed at the Australian surf life saving championships in the under 19 racing in Perth earlier this year and finish fourth in the ironwoman race.

She also won numerous medals as part of Newport teams at the event and this season will be racing in the open division for the first time.

Rounds one and two of the series will be raced at Manly this weekend.

Saturday’s racing is over the Enduro format – a 40 minute race on a M shaped or traditional course where athletes compete in board, swim and ski legs twice.

On Sunday athletes will compete on the survival course – three separate 12 minute long iron races where 20 competitors will be culled down to a final field of eight.

Again, swim, ski and board legs will be raised.

Gold Coast star Georgia Miller will start favourite in the women’s field on a beach she knows intimately.

Miller was bought up on the nortehrn beaches before relocating to the Gold Coast.

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