Gold Coast sports legend Jenny Alcorn dies after battle with cancer

Popular Gold Coast sporting legend Jenny Alcorn is being remembered as someone with a deep passion for triathlon and care for all around her after her untimely passing.

Jenny Alcorn. Picture credit: Delly Carr

Prominent Gold Coast sporting icon Jenny Alcorn has died after a battle with cancer, remembered as an triathlete with a “deep passion” for the sport and “endless care” for all.

The triathlon legend who spent more than three decades as the Surfers Paradise Triathlon Club head coach passed on Monday.

On top of inspiring the next generation of athletes as a coach, she was also a phenomenal athlete in her own right - a former World Kona Ironman Champion who was the Australian flag bearer at the 2018 Age World Championships on the Gold Coast.

Alcorn’s partner Margot Rupe described her as an “amazing person”.

“She pushed every boundary in life and it was incredible,” she said.

“She was the love of my life for 20 years, she helped me raise two amazing children.

“Yes triathlon was her life but she always enjoyed all the sports our kids did, she never missed a TSS First 15 game, she never missed a Bond Uni rugby game.

“Even on Saturday afternoon, she sat up and watched our son play rugby in Japan, so she was a pretty amazing person.

“We’re all heartbroken, our souls are heartbroken, she did everything with love, she loved her family, she loved me, she loved our kids and embraced everything she did.”

Rupe highlighted the Kona Ironman title as one of her proudest moments.

“Probably the proudest moment was her coming out of retirement at the age of 55 and winning Kona Ironman. That was a pretty amazing feat,” she said.

Jenny Alcorn. Picture: Supplied

Dan Teasdale spent more than two decades with Alcorn at the Surfers Paradise Triathlon Club and said: “She was always a fantastic spectator so you’d hear her yelling out ‘go Danny boy’ on the side of the race.

“But in her own racing she was ever so determined, she wouldn’t let anyone beat her.”

Teasdale said she was a welcoming, loving figure who was committed to her triathlon club.

“She was a very caring, loving person but a tough-as-nails athlete,” he said.

“We spent a lot of time together cycling everywhere on the Gold Coast and races away.

“She never had a bad word to say about anyone she was very inclusive, welcomed everyone and loved the sport triathlon.”

Teasdale also highlighted Alcorn’s ability to bring people together, as he met his wife through friends he made via the legendary coach.

“One of the things that we’ve come to realise is we’re not just friends with Jen, we’re all friends because of Jen,” he said.

“There was probably 15 of us that were out for a walk (Tuesday) morning just to get together - one of the small groups that she has brought together.”

In an Instagram post on her page dedicated to her cancer journey, Alcorn was remembered for “her deep passion for her triathlon family and with the endless care she shared with everyone around her”.