Karla Gilbert’s Aussies iron record falls to Georgia Fitzsimmons in final surf life saving race
Iron star Georgia Fitzsimmons never imagined a career of world and Aussie crowns. Nor did she ever think she would eclipse the record of surf life saving great Karla Gilbert - until she did.
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She’s a woman who loves to race, loves to win and loves a chat but Georgia Fitzsimmons could only manage two of those things en route to eclipsing the record of surf great Karla Gilbert for the most Aussie ironwoman crowns - in her last ever race.
“Can’t talk, dream, fairytale, speechless,’’ said Fitzsimmons who won three as Georgia Miller and Sunday’s as Georgia Fitzsimmons after marrying Olympic kayaker Riley after the Paris Games.
Fitzsimons, who has now retired from the elite side of a sport which saw her win multiple professional ironwoman crowns, worlds titles and Australian medals, was tied on three iron crowns with the legendary Gilbert before Sunday’s race.
Now she stands alone as the first woman to win four.
“It’s my last ever ironwoman and I am relived,’’ Fitzsimmons said when she could finally talk,
“I am over the moon, so excited, this is just so special.
“To write my name in history is very cool.
“It really is a dream come true. I could never have imaged this when I was young. Never.
“I never thought I’d win one, let alone winning four. To have surpassed Karla. it’s an incredible legacy to leave, and one I will be very proud of for the rest of my life.”
The former northern beaches surf star relocated to the Gold Coast as a teenager to pursue her surf lifesaving career and won the 2025 ironwoman crown in the famous Northcliffe cap.
Her idol in Sydney was ironwoman Naomi Flood, the woman who now coaches her at her Gold Coast club, and Courtney Hancock, who retired with three iron titles to her name.
“I was that a bit young to remember Karla but everyone knows how incredible she I was,’’ said Fitzsimmons who won the mixed double ski with her husband on Saturday.
“I was just soaking it all up today ion the starting line. To win is just icing on the cake.’’
Fitzsimmons is planning to spend quality time with her husband with the pair looking forward to starting a family.
“Fingers crossed,’’ she said,
“I’ve been an athlete a long time. I just want to enjoy time with my husband now.’’
Fitzsimmons beat clubmate Naomi Scott and Carla Papac for the iron title.
While retirement has been on the mind of iron great Ali Day he has confirmed - again- that he will be racing on for a while at least after winning a fourth iron crown.
Day won his seventh ironman crows on the final day of the 2025 Aussies at Kirra, an event put in serious doubt due to damage from cyclonic conditions in Queensland last month.
“The Aussies finals are different, I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s not necessarily faster than your semis - and it’s definitely harder - but it’s just another pressure situation. You’ve got to stand up and deliver,’’ he said.
“I guess that’s experience for me now being in I thinks that’s my 10th or 11th Australian ironman final. I know how to stick to the race plan.
“North Kirra is a lucky beach for me. I came down here as like a 15-year-old and marvelled at Shannon Eckstein, Zane Holmes and Ky Hurst and thought, you know, how cool would that be to one day be in the same arena … and now I’m mentioned the same sentence as them, it’s really special,”
Day said he will return to defend his crown in 2026.
“I’ll definitely be back next year. I think there’s a bit of pressure going in today, looking at that under 19 age group coming up, and they get harder and harder to win,’’ he said.
“To win another one today, I’m over the moon,” he said.
In another special performance, Paris Olympic paddling teammates Daniel Collins, Riley Fitzsimmons and Pierre Van Westhuysen filled the podium in the blue riband single ski race.
Read more from AMANDA LULHAM HERE
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Originally published as Karla Gilbert’s Aussies iron record falls to Georgia Fitzsimmons in final surf life saving race
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