Shannon Eckstein: 30 years of being a top Ironman
Nearly three decades ago, Shannon Eckstein arrived at Surfers Paradise surf club for his first Nippers session. Little did he know it would set in motion decades of hard work and resulting success.
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NEARLY three decades ago, Shannon Eckstein arrived at Surfers Paradise surf club for his first Nippers session.
Nobody on the beach that day, despite their most honest claims, would have predicted they were bearing witness to a future star of the sport who would go on to win 41 Australian Championship gold medals, including a record eight Open Ironman Championships, plus nine Nutri-Grain Series wins and six World Ironman titles.
Despite starting his winning ways at a young age, the 35-year-old’s first memories of the sport were not of medals being draped around his neck.
“I remember Sunday Nipper barbecues after you finish, just mucking around with your mates after Nippers,” he said.
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Surf lifesaving wasn’t the only sport Eckstein excelled in.
During his formative years, Eckstein was awarded a running scholarship to TSS where he also played rugby league and shone in the swimming pool before he was forced to make a choice.
“I played lots of sports but when I was 15 I decided that ironman was the one I wanted to pursue,” he said.
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“I was going pretty well at surf but it was also within the family.
“My dad was coaching Nippers at the surf club and we had the sport in the family so it was one that always stood out that I wanted to do because family had done it before me.”
The surf world couldn’t have been more grateful for his choice as Eckstein transformed from an aspiring star into an inspiration for past and emerging generations.
“I grew up at Surfers surf club and they had people like Trevor Hendy, Karla Gilbert — they were the two big stars when I was racing and you dream to race like them and live their life,” he said.
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“To be doing the same thing 20 years later and inspiring the younger generation, it’s pretty cool and pretty surreal to be doing that when I was looking up to people 20 years go.”
Despite constantly adding titles to his already impressive surf lifesaving resume, Eckstein revealed there was a point where he considered giving it away.
“Obviously you put a bit of pressure on yourself when you start winning when you’re younger, but I’ve always enjoyed that pressure,” he said.
“Before I had kids, there were a couple years there when I was around 30 that I thought of giving it away because I had a few niggling injuries.
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“Since I’ve had kids, it hasn’t been the full focus of my life and it’s been pretty laid back since then, which has got a few more years out of me.”
Despite finishing second to the in-form Ali Day just a week ago in his own ironman race, the inaugural Shannon Eckstein Classic, Eckstein believes his body couldn’t stand the rigour of another season.
“At the start of the season I knew I was going really well before I tore my calf,” he said.
“I thought I could stand on top of the podium this year but that setback cost me a lot of fitness and strength in my legs.
“I know I’m still racing well enough to be knocking around the top guys but I’ve been doing it for so long and I’ve really happy with what I’ve done and what I’ve gotten out of my body.”
Eckstein, who once saved a group of people from drowning when on holiday in Thailand, said that he would reflect on his glistening career in years to come.
“The last couple of years, I’ve reflected on my career a little bit,” he said.
“You tend to look back and just reminisce on all the good times but I haven’t fully sat down and looked at it.
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“When people talk about the numbers and statistics, you think you’ve been doing it a long time and had some great wins and successes, but you try and concentrate on what you’ve got ahead.”
Eckstein’s swan song will come when he competes for the last time in The Aussies ironman race to bring down the curtain on a career in which he has become the greatest surf lifesaver of all time.
“Obviously, it will be emotional,” he said.
“I remember it (The Aussies) was always at Kurrawa when I was young and before I was racing, I used to head down there and watch all the big guys race.
“It’s pretty cool it’s back at Broadbeach for my last one as kind of the home and where I’ve done most of my Aussies racing.”
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