Liam Bromilow with Ben Coventry.
Often you hear stories about everyday men and women having ‘light bulb’ moments, or events happen to them that change the course of their lives. ON Ambassador Ben Coventry is one of those people, who decided a life of obesity and potential depression was not where he wanted to end up. A snap decision, and a bit of friendly banter from friends, enticed Ben to enter a local triathlon race, and since that moment in 2012 he has gone on an exponential rise to fitness greatness.
Currently preparing for what will be the biggest fitness test of his athletic career, Coventry will line up at this weekend’s Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. A gruelling 9+ hour event which sees competitors complete a 3.8-kilometre swim in Kailua Bay, a 180-kilometre bike ride along the Kuakini Highway, and to top it off a full 42.2-kilometre marathon through some of the harshest landscapes known to man. All this for the grand prize of being able to call yourself a World Champion!
“Ironman triathlon is a sport that allows you to push yourself to limits that you never thought you could ever get to!” These were the words mentioned by Coventry prior to departing for Hawaii. You can see the desire that the Sydney-sider holds in wanting to be successful at this race, as whenever he talks about the big race, his steely gaze comes to the fore.
No stranger to big races, Coventry has also competed in multiple World Championship events, being the ITU Long Course World Championships in 2014 in China (where he finished 6th in his age group), and more recently the Ironman 70.3 World Championships this year in Austria (where he finished 57th).
As a teenager, Coventry was heavily bullied by his peers due to being overweight, and this has only added to his innate drive that he holds. “I started competing initially to prove a point to the bullies and the people that didn’t believe in me, but now I compete to inspire people.” It’s these motives that have also enabled Coventry to add his name to charity causes such as the Smiling for Smiddy Cancer research project.
The past few months have been a grind for Coventry as he prepared to race in Kona, but it’s his day job as a personal trainer which keeps him firmly grounded. “I am lucky that my races and my training also inspire my clients to work harder and start their own journey in the endurance world whether it half marathons, marathons or the local fun run.” The enthusiasm rubs off, as Coventry has been able to inspire many of his clients to get involved in endurance sports while still keeping them ‘fun’.
Just how Coventry will perform in the greatest race that triathlon has to offer is an unknown. But one thing is for sure, if the race was decided on sheer passion and pride, Coventry would be a certain frontrunner. “Ever since I started racing Ironman it has been my dream to race in Kona.” This Saturday, that dream comes true.
By Liam Bromilow.
