IRON WILLED:
SURF CHAMP COURTNEY HANCOCK CHASES ELUSIVE WORLD TITLE
COURTNEY Hancock has found her final mountain to climb and an elusive world ironwoman title is waiting at the summit.
One of surf lifesaving’s most decorated athletes, Hancock is a three-time Nutri-Grain ironwoman title winner, three-time Coolangatta Gold champion and multiple world surf race winner.
But a world ironwoman title has so far remained out of reach for the Northcliffe representative, with two bronze medals the closest she has come. Hancock believes that is all about the change.
An unprecedented focus on the world championships, to be held in Adelaide from November 16 to December 2, has Hancock positioned to chase the crown she craves.
“That is something I’d really love to get before I finish,” Hancock said ahead of her sixth world titles appearance. “I’m still reaching for that and the Nutri-Grain and Australian title.
“They are my three goals for this season.
“Within that I’m really focusing on each and every one. Another swim title would be amazing and to win with Northcliffe overall would be amazing too.”
Hancock chose not to chase a fourth straight Coolangatta Gold this year in order to focus on the NutriGrain series, world and Australian titles.
“Every year I have done the world titles it’s never been my 100 per cent focus. Last time I raced in the Netherlands (in 2016) it interrupted my Coolangatta Gold preparation.
“It was only three weeks before Coolangatta Gold and I flew over to Netherlands for five days. I was there and back. My body wasn’t ready for sprinting, it was more built for endurance.
“A lot of my races I was slower at the start and faster at the end. This year I have been focusing on that shorter stuff so I definitely feel a lot stronger and faster.”
Hancock, 30, will compete in Round 2 of the NutriGrain Ironman Series in Coolum tomorrow and Saturday after placing seventh in the opening round in Sydney last month.