Tassie ironman Matt Bevilacqua exceeds all his expectations
MATT Bevilacqua remembers waking up for training at 5am, hosing the ice off his surf lifesaving skis, and plunging into the freezing winter waves at Clifton Beach. But now, he says the “grind in the cold” helped him to get to the level he is at now.
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MATT Bevilacqua had one goal when he moved from Tasmania to Queensland in 2011 — to qualify for the Nutri-Grain Ironman Series.
Now, seven years later, he has exceeded his wildest dream, after last weekend becoming the first Tasmanian to be crowned ironman champion.
Bevilacqua left behind friends and family for a move to the Gold Coast — a decision which wasn’t easy for the former Clifton Beach surf lifesaver, but one that has brought a ton of success.
The former St Virgil’s College student has won three straight Molokai 2 Oahu Hawaii titles since 2015, and while Bevilacqua entered the 2017-18 ironman series in hot form, his overall victory in the six-round event surpassed all expectations he had of himself.
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“The dream when I left Tassie at 18 was just to make the series,” Bevilacqua said.
“Outside of Tasmania I wasn’t any good. As soon as I came to the Australian titles I didn’t even make it out of round 1.
“I wasn’t even in the top 75 per cent of ironmen.
“I hadn’t dreamt of winning the series, I just wanted to make my mark on the sport and show the rest of the sport that Tassie competitors can mix it with the best.”
While Bevilacqua’s win may be the cherry on top, the three-time world paddleboard champion said he was hungry to taste more glory.
“I still want to just keep ticking the boxes,” Bevilacqua said.
“I’m not the type to get complacent, I just want to keep moving forward and enjoy the sport as much as I can along the way.
“You’ve got to make the most of it while you can. I’m still only 25 — I’d love to have 10 more years in this sport.”
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Victory in the Nutri-Grain Ironman Series was sweetened even further when Bevilacqua got to share the win with his girlfriend Brielle Cooper, who took out the ironwoman title for 2018.
Cooper said to win it side-by-side was a great moment.
“It’s pretty incredible, and I think it makes it so much more special that we get to share it together,” Cooper said. “We were just hoping that maybe one of us could clinch a title.”
I’m not the type to get complacent, I just want to keep moving forward and enjoy the sport as much as I can along the way. You’ve got to make the most of it while you can. I’m still only 25. I’d love to have 10 more years in this sport. – Matt Bevilacqua
Bevilacqua’s father Tym said his son’s ironman victory was testament to the 25-year-old’s determined attitude.
“Matt’s self-belief, hard work, and his personal drive has sort of changed all of our family’s lives in a way,” Mr Bevilacqua said.
“Proud doesn’t quite sum up how we’re feeling. I really struggle to put it into words.
“I know, for me personally, it’s given me a lift in life — I approach things a lot more positively now like Matt does. I now believe that a lot more in life is possible.”
Throughout his early teenage years, Bevilacqua remembers waking up for training at 5am, hosing the ice off his surf lifesaving skis, and plunging into the freezing winter waves at Clifton Beach.
Now a frequent beachgoer on the Gold Coast, Bevilacqua believes that his development as a junior in the icy Tasmanian conditions has given him an edge over fellow athletes.
“Coming from Tassie, that training, and that grind in the cold was the reason that I’ve been able to improve my performance to a level that it’s at now,” Bevilacqua said.
“It’s almost a benefit, being in Tassie. I’ve always felt that when I line up against others that they don’t enjoy it as much as I do — I’m loving this more than they are because of what I’ve gone through.”
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He believes more Tasmanian paddleboarders can follow in his shoes and become world champions in the sport.
“I can probably teach others to learn from my mistakes, of not dreaming big enough,” he said.
“It’s important to strive hard to improve yourself and reach that big dream — there’s no reason why people in Tassie can’t reach that.”
One of Tasmania’s rising paddleboard athletes is Kate Reardon, who has been crowned state under-14 female surf lifesaving winner and gained nomination for the Tasmanian young surf lifesaver of the year.
Reardon said Bevilacqua’s ironman victory gives hope to Tasmania’s young paddleboard athletes that they, too, can chase international success in the sport.
“Matt’s performance was really great and very inspiring,” Reardon said. “Coming from down here, and then going and mixing it with the world’s best is pretty amazing to see.”
Bevilacqua’s coach at Kurrawa surf club in Queensland, Barry Newman, said Bevilacqua can win many more paddleboard titles.
“He’s very capable of again becoming ironman champion in the future,” Newman said.
“This is just the start for Matt, I think next year he’ll be even better.”
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