BRIGHTEST DAY FOR IRONMAN
Coolangatta Gold legend wins sports star of year
Superstar Ironman Ali Day is no rookie when it comes to winning an award but he seemed lost for words when he claimed his latest title.
Day, who has won nine Coolangatta Gold races, has been named the Gold Coast Sports Star of the Year.
The 33-year-old said it wasn’t something he ever thought he would win.
“It's a huge shock, I come from a small town where I couldn’t even win a sports star there,” Day said.
“Had some pretty tough talent on the Gold Coast. Just thrilled and honoured to win an award like this.”
The Ironman champion seems to have been getting better as he has gotten older as he chases the perfect 10 from 10 in the Coolangatta Gold in 2024.
“It’s doing a couple of things like doing the finer details and being consistent day in, day out,” Day said.
“Everyone here loves sport, particularly the athletes who are still competing. I love doing what I do, its one of the best jobs in the world.
“I get to live here on the Gold Coast in Miami, train, go to the beach everyday, go to the pool at Bond University.
“Its an amazing lifestyle that I get to do and I get to live, so its pretty easy to get up in the morning and go training.”
Day edged out Gold Coast champions, tennis star Emerson Jones, boxer Jai Opetaia, Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold and Supercars driver Brodie Kostecki for the award.
Its another accolade on Day’s long list of triumphs, which includes five NutriGrain Series wins.
“Tonight will stand out (as a memory) you look at the list of people who have won this award before and you have to pinch yourself,” Day said.
“I look at Shannon Eckstein’s name was on there – he is obviously a hero of mine – and someone like Trevor Hendy as well.
“That means a lot to me to win an award like this and I would not be standing where I was if it wasn’t for a lot of people.”
Day recently took on a different kind of challenge in opening a gym on the Gold Coast, which is inundated with similar fitness centres.
“When we got advice, everyone told us not to open a gym on the Gold Coast because there is 500,” Day said.
“But we really felt that we could change it to something different, and have a different level of care.
“My business partner was a footy player, we wanted to create an environment where people felt safe and enjoyed training. I felt like we have been able to do that.”
His gym, Actv Strength Co, has facilities at four locations around the Gold Coast area at Burleigh Heads, Ashmore, Coolangatta and Eltham.