Nutri-Grain celebrates 40th anniversary with Ironman and Ironwoman Series by immortalising young guns on cereal boxes.
We famously got to know their champion surf life saving parents on the back of cereal boxes. Now the wheel has turned full circle.
Other Sports
Don't miss out on the headlines from Other Sports. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Surf life saving legends Darren Mercer and Trevor Hendy ruled the ocean 30 years ago, but today it’s their children who are making waves.
So much so, that Nutri-Grain is marking its 40th anniversary with the Ironman and Ironwoman Series by immortalising young guns Jordan Mercer and TJ Hendy on the back of cereal boxes.
Stream over 50 sports on-demand with KAYO SPORTS on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Just $25/month, no lock-in contract. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >
Mercer took out the 52km Molokai to Oahu Paddle Board World Championship six times before claiming her first Nutri-Grain Ironwoman series in 2015/2016.
After two serious foot injuries, she became the first athlete to win the Molokai to Oahu Paddle Board and Surf Ski titles.
“Watching Jordie reach a pinnacle in her career, start to become a really good competitor, to be struck down with injuries and have to fight back,” Mercer Snr said.
“That shows her grit and how she just overcomes adversity. A lot of competitors would have just thrown in the towel at that point.”
Hendy is continuing to impress, finishing third at the 2019 Australian Titles and fifth in both the 2019 Coolangatta Gold and last Summer’s Nutri-Grain Ironman Series.
“It’s funny how it goes full circle, it’s not just ending up on the back of the packet, it’s all the things that come with it, being a role model for kids, and TJ’s an amazing young Ironman” Hendy Snr said.
Mercer and Hendy said their fathers have been special mentors in their sporting careers.
“We’ve both seen each other in some of our most challenging moments and rawest states and that’s something I cherish,” Mercer said.
“I’d be two hours into a five-hour paddle, and feel like I can’t go any further, but dad would say something so simple and suddenly I feel like I’m capable of absolutely anything.”
Hendy said his father taught him to back his intuition in the water.
“The one thing that’s rubbed off the most is not trying to force things,” Hendy said.
“My best races have been going with the flow, I’ve learnt that with Dad, from not only the way he did Ironman but the way he’s gone about life.”
Originally published as Nutri-Grain celebrates 40th anniversary with Ironman and Ironwoman Series by immortalising young guns on cereal boxes.