Kaihau notches up huge recovery milestone
HE didn’t stand on top of the podium but there’s little doubt Tainui Kaihau may have been the biggest winner of the Coolangatta Gold carnival.
Just 12 months ago, Kaihau had no hope of completing the Gold’s short course, knocked for six by leukaemia and the chemotherapy he was underHEAD going to treat the disease. After competing in the Mount Monster multi-sport event in New Zealand, the rising Noosa star returned home with sore hips and legs and after failing to recover in training, and being constantly tired, he consulted a doctor.
“Luckily he was on to it pretty quick,” Kaihau said.
While he did not require a bone marrow transplant, Kaihau had intensive chemotherapy for a month, and will continue to have monthly treatments in a “maintenance program” until next year.
His sister Grace’s win in the under-19 Gold short course race last year – and her postrace tribute to her brother – inspired Kaihau to attempt the feat on Saturday and while it was a struggle, he finished six in the open men’s division over the 21km course to mark a massive milestone in his recovery.
“It means a lot to me,” said Kaihau, who admitted his prognosis was “pretty bad” at times last year.
“Last year I set my goal to get to watch her and she won and did so well, so she motivated me just as I motivated her, so we worked off each other. “It was good to just do it.” Surfers Paradise ironman Ben Cochrane won the men’s short course Gold, with Currumbin’s Kirstie Hardstaff winning the women’s event.
Isaac Smith won the under-19 men’s division, while Manly’s Emily Doyle won the under-19 women’s division.