Coolangatta Gold 2024: Jemma Smith wins big after narrow loss in past, Ali Day quits after 10th crown
Five years after missing a win on debut by 39 seconds, this ironwoman returned for one of the most dominating Coolangatta Gold performances in recent times as a champion called time.
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Five years ago at the end of one of the most punishing races she has ever done Jemma Smith watched a rival run past her on the soft sand to pip her for a Coolangatta Gold win on debut.
On Sunday in Queensland, the ironwoman from the NSW Central Coast now based on Sydney’s northern beaches finally got to celebrate a win in the famous surf life saving race – with one of the most emphatic wins in recent times in the women’s event.
Smith’s win followed on from Ali Day winning a record 10th Coolangatta Gold crown (3:59.31) then calling time on racing the famous event after beating Matt Bevilacqua (4:02:04) and Smith’s Newport clubmate Jackson Borg (4:04:23)
“I hope there’s a kid out there now watching me that can walk away and say they are going to do the race next year,’’ Day said.
“But that definitely won’t be me, 10 and done.”
Smith, who took time away from the sport in recent times to campaign – unsuccessfully – for the Paris Olympics kayak team, rated her five minute plus win over Lucy Derbyshire as one of her most special moments.
“It’s just such a sense of relief to put together that race,’’ Smith said.
“I knew that is the beast of the Coolangatta Gold – that it’s hard to put what you do in training into practice.
“So to be able to trust in the work I have done and to run down the shute and not see anyone behind me, it’s special.’’’
Last time Smith raced in 2019 she shared the finish shute with multiple winner Lana Rogers who beat her for the win.
On Sunday Rogers pulled out of the 41.8km race early with Smith (4:21.52) going on to beat Lucy Derbyshire (4:27.43) by more than five minutes.
It was the biggest winning margin in the women’s event sine 2018 when Georgia Miller defeated Danielle McKenzie by almost 10 minutes.
Smith said she only decide to ha have a second crack at the gold after missing Olympic selection and had worked with Newport clubmates to be in top form.
“I have had a lot of time to think about that last race and I was laser focused on this one,’’ she said.
“To do this is awesome.’’
Day was delighted with his 10th victory.
“I dreamt of this moment when I got to nine, and I think that’s my best one yet to be honest. I don’t think it will ever fully sink in, maybe when I’m retired,” he said.
“It means the most for a bunch of different reasons…I had a bunch of family and friends that came up. So it’s just completely different to when I won it 12 years ago. I’m really proud that I’ve done 10.
“It takes a village to get me here and as much as I’d love to come back next year it’s someone else’s turn now to go and win it.
“My job, personally, was to challenge myself, but also to inspire the next generation like Caine Eckstein, Rhys Drury, Zane Holmes, (Michael) Kingy, and all the past winners of this race have inspired me.’’
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Originally published as Coolangatta Gold 2024: Jemma Smith wins big after narrow loss in past, Ali Day quits after 10th crown
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