SPIRIT OF ‘DEANO’ AT COOLY
THE country’s best surf lifesavers say their memories of ironman Dean Mercer will help them through the sport’s toughest test next month when they tackle the Coolangatta Gold.
Between them, Shannon Eckstein, Ali Day, Courtney Hancock and Rebecca Creedy have won multiple world, Australian, Kellogg’s series and Coolangatta Gold titles. But each of them has been touched by the recent death – and life achievements – of Mercer.
While he may never have won the Gold, Mercer’s dedication to the torturous marathon made him a legend of the event and his legacy will spur all those that take part on October 7-8.
“I’ll definitely be drawing upon a bit of inspiration on that day from Deano,” Day said.
Eckstein said he too would be guided by the memory of Mercer. “His last Gold, he finished second and crossed the line and looked like he’d won because he was so ecstatic because he’d done the best race he could and I’m like that this year,” he said.