Historic Champions Jacobs and Kelly Join Triathlon's Greatest

Two Aussie triathlon legends just joined an elite club this weekend. Pete Jacobs, who dominated the 2012 Ironman World Championship in Hawaii, and Katie Kelly OAM, our first Paralympic triathlon gold medalist, were inducted into the AusTriathlon Hall of Fame at a ceremony that brought together the sport's biggest names.

Jacobs' path to greatness started on Sydney's Northern Beaches, where he was just another teenager hanging out with his surf lifesaving mates. He caught the triathlon bug after tagging along to local races. By 20, he'd qualified as an age-grouper for Ironman Australia, trading his landscaping apprenticeship for the pro circuit in 2004. It took a full decade of grit - including multiple setbacks from chronic fatigue - before he achieved his dream of winning in Kona. His 2012 victory capped off an incredible era of Australian dominance, making him one of only four Aussie men to conquer the Ironman race. No Australian has managed to repeat his feat since.

Kelly's rise in the sport reads like a movie script. After being diagnosed with Usher syndrome affecting her vision and hearing in her mid-20s, she didn't just adapt - she excelled. Teaming up with triathlon legend Michellie Jones as her guide in 2015, they became an unstoppable force. The pair went undefeated leading into the 2016 Paralympics, including a dramatic comeback victory at the 2015 World Championships in Chicago. Their partnership peaked in Rio, where they clinched Australia's first-ever Paralympic triathlon medal - and made it gold. Kelly wasn't done yet, grabbing another world title in 2017 in Rotterdam and pushing through a stress fracture to win bronze at the 2018 World Championships on the Gold Coast with guide Holly Grice. She wrapped up her remarkable career at the Tokyo Games with guide Briarna Silk.

At the QT Gold Coast ceremony, both athletes showed why they're more than just champions. "Nobody has done it since from Australia," Jacobs reflected on his Kona win, while Kelly spoke about the surreal feeling of joining the sport's legends, especially as someone who "never imagined representing Australia at the highest level."

Their impact continues beyond competition. Jacobs now channels his experience into performance coaching, helping others navigate the world of endurance sports. Kelly's legacy might be even bigger off the course - her Sport Access Foundation has pumped over $86,000 into grants helping young athletes with disabilities chase their sporting dreams. She's also taken on roles with Achieve Australia, Griffith University's Disability Inclusive Council, and serves as co-Patron of the Australian Deaf Games.