HALL OF FAMER’S REFLECTION TIME
TRIATHLON Australia’s newest hall of famer, Joanne King, says her biggest regret in the sport was failing to appreciate the places the sport took her.
The former junior and senior world champion was inducted into the hall of fame at a gala event on the Gold Coast earlier this month, joining an illustrious list of names including Greg Welch, Michellie Jones and Emma Carney.
“It was funny on the night, just when your past and present worlds collide. It was quite weird, it was 20 years ago,” King said. “I guess it’s nice to be recognised for something I did all those years ago.
“I’ve moved on in a way — not forgotten, of course, but to be recognised for what I did in a golden era of triathlon, really, and to be alongside the other current inductees, it was an honour.
“They were my friends, my competitors and we were all so dominant at that time. We all won a world title in the late ’90s.”
After growing up in Portland, King became a junior world champion at 20, claiming the 1996 ITU Triathlon World Championship crown in Cleveland. But a knee injury suffered shortly after left her with permanent damage that ultimately cut short her career.
It didn’t stop her from coming back and winning the senior ITU Triathlon World Championship in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1998, however, as well as a World Cup event in Kapelleop-den-Bos, Belgium, in 1999.
“The highs certainly make up for the lows,” she said.
“I snapped my posterior cruciate ligament two years into my elite career so that really had an effect on my longevity in the sport.”
Two stress fractures in her foot also proved devastating, as she missed the opportunity to trial for the Sydney Olympics.
But the Torquay mum of two said her only regret was not living in the moment.
“At the time, you’re so focused on the next race, the next training session,” King said.
“That was one of my regrets as an triathlete, not spending the time as a tourist.
“We went to amazing places but we didn’t stop and see the all the sights that a tourist would.”