SLSA Hall of Fame: surprising win Darren Mercer rates his greatest
Surf Life Saving Australia ironman legend Darren Mercer has so many victories to his name he’s probably forgotten more than he remembers. But one stands out and it may surprise.
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In his heyday, showing any sign of emotion, especially pain, was alien to ironman great Darren Mercer.
It would have show weakness, a chink in his amour, a way for rivals of the Thirroul ironman to potential out-race or out-psyche him
But on the weekend, Mercer, who has now transitioned to coaching, readily admitted to be emotional when told he would be inducted in his sports Hall of Fame.
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“I was really thrilled. I got a bit emotional, I really did,’’ Mercer said.
Now based at Noosa on the Sunshine Coast, the 47-year-old said has family, including his mother Maureen and father John, who are still based in Wollongong, all share in his honour.
“It’s one of those things you don’t expect and it was a proud moment for me and the family,’’
said Mercer, whose ironman brother Dean died in 2018 after suffering a cardiac arrest at the wheel of his car.
“They don’t hand these things out willy nilly. It’s very prestigious.
“I’ve been involved now for 45 years in surf life saving, from Nippers, ironman to different stage of coaching, and I’m passionate about it and love it. That’s the bottom line.’’
Highlights of his career include winning his Austinmer club’s first ever Australian title in the u18 ironman, consecutive Coolangatta Golds, multiple Australian ironman crowns and dominating the Nutri Grain series for eight years from the late 80s.
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But Mercer, who also competed for North Wollongong, said his greatest wins were coaching daughter Jordan to success in the Nutri-Grain ironwoman series and a victory way back in 1990.
“They were all good, the Australia titles, Coolangatta Gold’s but I didn’t get too many opportunities to compete in the teams so one very special one is the Aussie gold medal in the open board relay I won with Dean and Brett Dowke at North Wollongong in 1990,’’ he said.
“That’s one of my fondest memories. Especially because it was with Dean and not against him,;
“We would never compete in the six man Taplin together. Our club was just too small and we didn't have the firepower.
“So the teams medal was very special.’’
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