Cooly Gold champions pay emotional tribute to ironman
COOLANGATTA Gold champions Ali Day and Courtney Hancock have paid tribute to the memory of Gold Coast ironman Dean Mercer for helping drive their successful title defences.
The pair took part in an emotional ceremony ahead of the gruelling race, standing in the sand with the other 51 members of the elite men’s and women’s fields for a minute’s silence and “paddles up” tribute in memory of Mercer, who died of a heart attack in August.
Mercer’s brother Darren, who won the great race in 1992, started the event and said the tribute had been a fitting way for the sport to honour his brother’s love of the Gold.
“It’s a special day, obviously it was a race that meant a lot to Dean and to have that tribute before the race was just tremendous and the guys (racing) really respected it as well, so it was great,” Darren Mercer said. “It’s (a race) that eluded him but one that he had so much passion about.
“It’s just all turned out very nicely.”
Day and Hancock, who were both influenced by Mercer, said while defending their titles sated their ambition, they were both racing for more than themselves yesterday.
The pair was thrilled to be able to finish in front of the Mercer family, including his wife Reen and four sons, who made a last-minute decision to watch the race.
Day kissed the black wrist band bearing the words “Doing it for Dean” that all competitors wore yesterday, before pointing to the sky as he crossed the line for a record-equalling fifth Gold title.
“I spoke to Reen and Jordy (Mercer’s ironwoman champion niece) and Darren … and it is so special to have them here, to have Darren start the race,” the Surfers Paradise SLSC member said.
“I drew a lot of inspiration from Deano today and I knew if I got the opportunity I’d look down on it and kiss up to the sky. I think it’s really important. Our sport is incredible that we’re a community. There’s over 700 competitors and everyone knows who Dean Mercer is.”
Hancock said she and Day looked at each other before the race thinking, “this is for Dean”.
“Everyone’s got a story out there and everyone’s doing it for different reasons but everyone today, part of their reason was for Dean,” Hancock said.
“It was so special (to have Reen and the boys there).
“Reen came up to me at the finish and gave me a hug.
“For her to be here, she’s an incredible, inspirational woman.”