Trevor Hendy can pinpoint the exact moment he learned to swim, and it involves a crocodile

Trevor Hendy can pinpoint the exact moment he developed a knack for pace in the surf.

TREVOR Hendy can pinpoint the exact moment he developed a knack for pace in the surf.

Hendy’s childhood was full of adventure, his family at one stage travelling around Australia in a blue Dodge, sampling the finest natural playgrounds our sunburnt earth had to offer.

But when it came to swimming, a close call with one of Australia’s most dangerous predators proved to be the making of Hendy’s long and strong stroke.

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“I learned to swim in the Daly River in the Northern Territory when I was three and a bit years of age,” Hendy told Surf Studio.

“We were running down this sand dune and jumping into the water and when we were done, we’d drift down the river a few hundred metres and go back to the campsite.

“Not long after we’d left that for the last time to continue our trip around Australia, they caught a 13 or 14 foot crocodile sitting on that exact sandbank.

“I joke to people, I learned to swim in the Daly River and that’s where the pace came from because I was the youngest one, but I was always trying to swim to the front of the pack.”

All road tripped out, Hendy and his family settled on the Gold Coast when he was eight years old.

Ironman Trevor Hendy in 1992.

Surrounded by golden sand and rolling waves, a junior Hendy never would have started Nippers at Surfers Paradise surf life saving club if not for the gentle coaxing of his dad Ron.

“My buddy Stewart turned up asking me if I’d come to nippers and I had the words formed in my mouth, ready to say ‘no thanks, I’ll be right’ and then my dad came up next to me and said ‘he’d love to go’,” Hendy said.

“I didn’t want to go but we got there and had to swim six laps across the swimming pool.

“The guys were shaking their arms and had swim caps and everything and I remember thinking I just wanted to be in the front of our blue Dodge truck driving around Australia, not here with these guys looking at me.”

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Hendy refused to jump into the pool, scared off not by the prospect of six laps but the established Nippers watching.

After “crying (his) eyes out” and being comforted by his dad, the entire squad moved towards the beach.

Ironman Trevor Hendy during ski leg of Uncle Toby's Super Series at Manly Beach. 6 November 1994 Sport / Swimming / Action

But instead of following, Hendy’s dad made him stay behind and complete the swimming session.

“Whenever I’ve not pulled something off or failed or felt guilty or embarrassed, I’ve always come back to it and tried and tried again,” Hendy said.

From humble beginnings, Hendy blossomed into a talented athlete and was balancing tennis with surf lifesaving – until his father sat him down and strongly suggested he focus his energy on one.

Hendy, now 51, recalls heading to his first Aussies in 1980 and watching Grant Kenny complete the junior and senior Australian ironman double.

But after struggling with team events initially, Hendy went on to become of Australia’s greatest ironmen, winning six Australia titles and four Super Series.