Lana Rogers claims Surf Life Saving Australia official threatened her over Iron X controversy

One of surf lifesaving’s rising stars has made a shock allegation against the sport’s governing body amidst controversial changes to the Nutri-Grain series.

ONE of surf lifesaving’s rising stars has sensationally accused Surf Life Saving Australia of bullying her into retirement if she didn’t embrace the controversial changes to the Nutri-Grain series.

The bitter feud that sparked six rebel clubs to form their own breakaway summer series has escalated after Noosa Heads athlete Lana Rogers claimed an official from the sport’s governing body told her she’d be a “retired ironwoman if I didn’t support Iron X.”

Rogers’ claim was strongly denied by Surf Life Saving Australia yesterday.

As revealed in Saturday’s Bulletin, a number of the sport’s elite athletes are in opposition to the decision to integrate new disciplines into the Nutri-Grain series, via the stand alone Iron X exhibition event.

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Lana Rogers is a rising star of the surf lifesaving scene. Picture: Brett Costello

After finishing third in the 2018/19 Nutri-Grain professional series, Rogers, 23, was among the top six finishers to automatically qualify for the Iron X event on January 27, 2020.

Rogers said an official called her to strongly suggest she accept the invitation or risk having her career ended because there’s a growing belief the changes would be implemented across the entire professional series next season.

“I was told two weeks ago that the top six finishers from the professional series last year automatically qualify for Iron X and that if I didn’t take advantage of my automatic invitation, I’d be back where I was three years ago,” she said.

“He said I’d be a retired ironwoman if I didn’t support Iron X.

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Some coaches and club presidents are against the changes. Picture: Jerad Williams

“I was really taken back and offended when he said that because that’s not how someone should approach a professional ironwoman.”

Newport coaching director James Brooks confirmed that his athletes were also under pressure from SLSA to participate in Iron X.

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“I continue to have conversations with athletes who are being made feel uncomfortable by SLSA about their participation in the Iron X event,” he said.

“It’s totally inappropriate that young men and women feel pressured about participating in an event they don’t support.”

“Some athletes involved in the upcoming series feel implied or obliged to participate,” added Northcliffe president David Shields.

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Lizzie Welborn said she wouldn’t compete if asked. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Rogers, who won the North Wollongong leg of the Ocean 6 series last year, said that she was opposed to the changes as they went against decades of surf life saving history.

“Personally, it’s not the sport I know and love and it’s not what made me want to be an ironwoman,” she said.

“I understand that we don’t get the same numbers down to the beach that we once did but I don’t know how it’s gotten to this point.”

North Bondi star Lizzie Welborn also said she’d refuse to compete Iron X if asked as she didn’t grow up idolising stand up paddle boarders and cross-fitters.

“I haven’t been asked to compete but if I was I’d say no,” she said.

“We’re so lucky that SLSA has given us the ironman and woman series this year and we’re all so supportive of SLSA doing that but the Iron X event as an athlete, isn’t attractive to me.”

SLSA National Sport Manger Wayne Druery yesterday said that the organisation had been transparent with athletes about the entry process into Iron X and that no decisions for the 2020/21 season had been made.

“Invitations have been sent out and we’re encouraging other athletes to apply,” he said.

“If they chose to take up the invite then that’s their choice.

“No decisions have been made whatsoever in regards to the series next year.

“There’s no compulsion whatsoever for athletes to compete in this event.

“We will do a total review of all of our events at the end of the season.”