FAREWELL TO THE GOAT
Fairytale finish eludes Eckstein but legacy lives on
DESPITE their most valiant efforts the scriptwriters couldn’t pen a fairytale ending to Shannon Eckstein’s career, with the surf lifesaving great finishing second in the Aussies ironman final.
The man they call the greatest of all time (GOAT) was yesterday in the leaders’ pack for all three legs and looked good for a win in his final professional race before retirement. However unlikely victor Max Brooks, of Newport, played the role of villain on this occasion to crush Eckstein, who looked gutted moments after crossing the line.
“I would have been nicer to be on top of the podium but I raced really well,” he said. “It’s probably the one that got away.”
Eckstein’s frustration was evident as he outlined the two “crucial” mistakes that saw him fall just short of a ninth national ironman title.
“I made one (error) at the start. My legs are no good and I fell over at the start and I fell behind but I worked my way to the front,” he said.
“A wave came through at the wrong time in the ski and I couldn’t go down; I had to pull off (the wave) and 360 around so I gave away 100m and I had to try and make it up and I nearly made it. That’s the sport. You try to put yourself in a position where bad luck doesn’t get you, but it got me a bit there today.
“I pride myself on being good enough to come through bouts of bad luck but today I wasn’t.”
After being the surf lifesaving benchmark for two decades, the 35-year-old said racing with freedom had allowed him to relish this season.
“I’ve enjoyed this year a lot more than the last 20 years because there’s been a lot of pressure at times,” he said.
“This year’s been about enjoying it. I started nippers for enjoyment and that’s how I wanted to finish.”
Brooks was speechless after his maiden ironman crown and paid tribute to Eckstein. “(Shannon) was always the one at the top of his game and to be able to race with him for the last four years and then to be in his last ever two races, it means a lot.”
Eckstein helped Northcliffe to the club’s 16th consecutive open Aussies pointscore championship, with the club finishing on 391, ahead of Alexandra Headland with 269 and Currumbin on 188.