From surgery to the surf: How Canning balances her two loves

When asked what it’s like balancing a career as a doctor along with surf life saving training, Nadi Canning needed just three words to answer.

WHEN asked what it’s like balancing a career as a doctor along with surf life saving training, Nadi Canning needed just three words to answer.

“It’s extremely difficult,” said Canning, a GP at Tugun who will compete in the open water events and team races.

“I’m often late to training because I’m stuck at work or I’ve slept in and missed my alarm.

“I get so tired and exhausted at the end of the week but I have a very supportive coach, teammates and husband so I’m making it work.”

Surf Life Saving athlete Nadi Canning on Tugun beach with her stethoscope, for a story about balancing her career as a doctor with surf life saving training. Picture: Jerad Williams

It’s hard to believe the 34-year-old never did nippers as a child and has only been involved in surf life saving for just over a decade.

After starring in the pool as a youngster, she made the switch to the surf and quickly excelled.

“I had a friend who I used to swim with and she went and started doing surf lifesaving and said to me ‘Nadi you have to come with me you’ll absolutely love it,’ so I started training and loved it straight away,” she said.

“I still get a bit scared in the big surf but I’ve had really fantastic coaches and I put a lot of time and effort into it and trained really hard.”

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Her trophy cabinet includes medals from state championships, the Aussies and she was also named a finalist for the 2016 NSW Surf Sports Athlete of the Year but Canning counts a recent achievement as her career highlight.

“My highlight was probably making the nutri-grain ironwoman final at Wanda two weeks ago,” she said.

“I haven’t achieved something like that before.”

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Last year Canning made the switch from Cudgen Headland SLSC to Currumbin and she believes the move is already paying off.

“I wanted to see how far I could get with surf lifesaving so I decided to go somewhere I could be pushed a bit more,” she said.

“Kingy (head coach and former ironman Michael King) has been amazing.

“I can’t speak highly enough of him.”

Nadi Canning Womens Elite division winner in the Coolangatta Gold short-course event. Picture by Scott Fletcher

Ahead of the Queensland senior state titles this weekend, Canning hopes to continue her strong form and a potentially add some more gold to her already extensive trophy cabinet.

“I’m hoping to make finals and go well in the team events,” she said.

“A top 10 finish would be good.”