Jordan Mercer “booted” from Nutri-Grain ironwoman series by latest injury
She’s out of the Nutri-Grain Ironwoman series through injury but Jordan Mercer still has her sights set on winning major titles off the sand.
She’s been booted out of the Nutri-Grain Ironwoman series by injury but Jordan Mercer still has her sights set on winning major titles off the sand.
With her right foot in plaster and soon in a moon boot for the remainder of the surf lifesaving season, Mercer is already looking ahead to making a mark in two different sports in 2019.
Unable to defend her Nutri-Grain title in 2017 due to surgery on her other foot, Mercer says she knows from experience how to keep herself motivated while recovering from injury.
And in her case that’s setting new sporting goals.
Mercer collapsed at the end of the opening round of the series at Coolum last month after falling in a small pothole on the sand.
“The attachment had come off the bone and taken ligament with it. With further exploration we realised that because of that the bone had actually separated so the surgery has bought the bones together with screws,” she said.
“It will be a tough recovery but I think it will put me in a better position to get back to doing what I want sooner.
“I’m hoping to be back on the surf ski after Christmas but running wise they are saying four or five months which puts me out of the Ironwoman.”
Mercer’s goal is to now win the Molokai ocean ski in May after coming third on debut this year goals now are to race and ocean surf ski tile.
The in July Mercer wants to add to her six-title haul at the Molokai to Oahu world paddle championships.
Her final goal is to clinch the prone and stand up world paddle titles in 2019.2
“I’ll have my sanity back by being in the ocean soon,” Mercer said.
“Pretty much I can do most things expect Ironwoman.”
Mercer says her plan is to eventually return to her first love of surf lifesaving when her body recovers from its most recent setbacks.
“I’m being told I have a great chance of getting back,” she said.
“The most extreme test would be running barefoot on the sand on uneven and unpredictable surfaces.
“But it’s not in the imminent future.”
Round three of the series will be raced at North Wollongong at 12.30pm on Saturday.
In the absence of the injured Harriet Brown, Georgie Miller leads the ironwoman series and Matt Poole the ironman.
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