Old rivals reunite in sporting hall of fame
THE surfing rivalry that simmered between Gold Coast sporting icons and childhood mates Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning will follow the pair into the region’s sporting hall of fame after an induction ceremony at Coolangatta on Wednesday evening.
The surfers became the fifth and sixth athletes from their discipline to join the Gold Coast hall, following Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew, Paul Neilsen, Peter Drouyn and Peter Townend.
But who was the sixth and
who was the seventh entrant?
“I’m here so it has to be me, right?” Parkinson teased.
“Don’t let Mick take that one, he’s taken enough off me with world titles and the like.”
The pair grew up competing against each other on waves at Coolangatta and surrounds, before swapping their local breaks for the international with fame and fortune to follow for both.
That their interwoven sporting journeys would lead to the Coast’s hall of fame together is a fitting twist to a mateship that has endured through the years.
“It is an honour,” Parkinson, 40, said.
“It feels like a lifetime ago to me that I was a professional surfer. Sometimes I don’t spend my day thinking about competitive surfing at all anymore … It’s sometimes nice to take a step back and reflect on what Mick and I did for 18 years on the tour.
“I spoke to him a couple of days ago; even though he’s away we’re always talking, and I think that’s the bond we’ll always have through surfing.
“To be inducted into the Gold Coast sporting hall of fame and to be acknowledged in my sport is huge for myself and for Mick, who I’m sure feels the same way that I do.”
Parkinson said the honour was special in a different way to the 2012 world surfing title that takes pride of place at home, because it was an honour bestowed by others.
“You don’t set a goal to be inducted into a hall of fame,” he said.
“This is more of an honour because I set a goal to win a world title. In a way it’s just as prestigious because people are recognising the effort you put in.”
Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate said it was a tremendous pleasure to induct two of the region’s favourite sons into the hall of fame.
Fanning was unable to attend due to work commitments.in the United States.