Cooper eclipses Gilbert
BRIELLE Cooper has ridden an emotional rollercoaster to become the youngest NutriGrain ironwoman series champion and sealing a fairytale season after boyfriend Matt Bevilacqua won the ironman title.
In a day of drama at North Cronulla, Cooper was knocked out in the first of three eliminator races and appeared to hand the title to reigning champion Harriet Brown.
Beachside commentators even announced Brown had regained the series and Cooper conducted media interviews believing she had lost the chance at a maiden title.
But Brown had to finish ninth or better in the final round to defend her title and when she was knocked out in the second eliminator, finishing 10th overall, the series went to a countback, with Cooper victorious thanks to round wins at Coolum and North Wollongong earlier in the season.
“Definitely, today has been a lot of highs and lows but so has the season,” said Cooper, who became the youngest series winner in history, three years younger than Karla Gilbert, who snared the first of her seven titles at 21 in 1996.
“I never thought this would happen, not at 18, so it’s pretty incredible.”
In her wildest dreams, Cooper had not entertained winning so young.
“I definitely didn’t think I could achieve a series (win) this year,” she said.
“I got that wildcard (into the series) last year and I wanted to go into this year proving to everyone that, yes, I got a wildcard but I did deserve to race in the series.
“This year, I wanted to make every final and prove a point and say that I am here to race the best of the best.
“I’m not just a name on a pair of togs, I wanted to sneak on to the podium.
“But I really didn’t think that would happen this year, I thought I would have at least two or three more years.”
Having Bevilacqua join her on top of the podium only made things sweeter.
“We just enjoy it and I think that’s why we get the results we do, because we enjoy what we’re doing regardless.”
Bevilacqua admitted he felt under pressure to get the job done once Cooper won.
I NEVER THOUGHT THIS WOULD HAPPEN, NOT AT 18, SO IT’S PRETTY INCREDIBLE
“That was incredible to watch her, my heart was in my mouth the whole way,” he said.
Bevilacqua made it through the opening two races of the eliminator format by the skin of his teeth.
Surfers Paradise ironman Ali Day, who took a six-point lead over Bevilacqua into the final race, looked set to win a second series when he headed into the final leg of the final eliminator ahead of his rival.
But Bevilacqua managed to find a small wave on the run home, leaving Day in his wake and beating him to the line by a single place, with the margin enough to take the title.
“It wasn’t even a wave, it was just a little double-up thing and it was the difference,” Bevilacqua said.