Ali Day (Surfers Paradise) has won his tenth Shaw and Partners Coolangatta Gold Ironman crown, the 34 year old making it 10 wins from 10 starts to continue his perfect record.

The dad of two couldn’t be happier with his performance in testing southerly conditions that had some competitors feeling sea sick after racing more than four hours across 41.8km.

Day once more finished ahead of rival Matt Bevilacqua (Northcliffe) who for the fourth time was forced to settle for the silver medal with Newport’s Jackson Borg taking the bronze.

The perfect 10 titles was what Day was wanting to achieve and has now called time on his Coolangatta Gold Ironman racing.

“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,” said Day.

“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.

“Winning is one thing, but turning up year in year out…whatever the conditions, whoever is doing it, I’m just really proud of the fact that I’ve mentally stood up every time and challenged myself. It means so much.

“I came here in 2007 when it was the old course, and I was here with my brother and we did a team event. I thought ‘how does one person do the full race’. I did 23km as a 16 year old and I jumped off my ski three times because my butt fell asleep.

“I came back in U19s and I failed miserably and I said to myself I’d never do it again. And here I am now.

“I’ve put my foot on the start line 12 years ago and had these amazing people and amazing opportunities in my career. I had the opportunity to come down here today and try and win 10 and I’m so happy that I did.

“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.

“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. But that definitely won’t be me, 10 and done,” he said.

In a drama filled Ironwoman race, defending champion and heavy favourite Lana Rogers was forced to withdraw 40 minutes into the opening ski leg, making way for new champion Jemma Smith from Sydney’s Newport Club.

For Smith it was the redemption story she had been chasing, having led throughout the 2019 Coolangatta Gold only to be overtaken by Rogers in the dying stages of the final run leg.

Smith took control of today’s race from the outset, delivering a dominant performance throughout each stage, finishing an impressive 6 minutes ahead of Lucy Derbyshire (Surfers Paradise) in second and 17 minutes ahead of Tiarnee Massie (Maroochydore) in third place.

The 25 year old, who hails from New South Wales Central Coast, said today’s win was made extra special being able to share it with Ali Day who she has admired as a competitor and person for such a long time.

“That’s incredible, to be able to finish that, see that [finish] banner and be able to take it.

I’ve been so incredibly lucky to be able to have a big six month block leading into this race with the support of Newport Surf Club,” said Smith.

“I just tried to keep focusing on me. I knew that if I got too caught up with where everyone was, that’s when you start to lose focus. I just really pushed the pace as much as I could.

“I think in 2019 it was so unknown for me. I’d never done it before and it was such a competitive field. To be right up the top of that field, right up until literally the last couple of metres was something I was really proud of but it definitely lit the fire in me to come back one day.

“My athletic journey went a different way the last couple of years, focusing more on paddling. But I made the decision six months ago to try and come back into this field and put together a race I knew I was capable of. So to get that win today is absolutely incredible.

“Ali has been such a source of inspiration for me, not only the athletic feats that he’s been able to set the bar so high. But the incredible person that he is and a role model. That’s something that I really try to emulate and take a lot away from.

“To be able to stand atop of the podium today, with Ali getting his tenth, is just insane. It’s so special to be able to do this alongside an amazing human being,” she said.

The 2024 Shaw and Partners Coolangatta Gold celebrated 40 years since the first event was staged as part of the movie of the same name.  The event that launched the career of Ironmen legends such as Guy Leech, Michael King and Darren Mercer, has now grown to include Ironwomen, masters and youth competitions.

Today’s action caps off two days of racing across the long and short courses, for the elite, open, masters and youth competitors.  More than 1,000 competitors from across Australia and internationally took part in Australia’s most gruelling event on the surf sports calendar.

For full results – click here.