The Perfect 10 Podcast

Tag: Surf Lifesaving Australia

  • Ep: 66 From Ironman Champion to Coaching King

    Ep: 66 From Ironman Champion to Coaching King

    From a kid growing up in Tannum Sands, chasing surf and competition with 12-hour round trips, to standing atop the sport as both an athlete and coach—this is the story of Michael King.

    A champion Ironman in his own right, Michael conquered the Coolangatta Gold and claimed the Ironman Series against one of the strongest fields ever assembled. But it was a pivotal move to Sydney that helped shape the next chapter of an already remarkable career.

    As a coach, his journey has been anything but linear.

    At Mooloolaba, he worked alongside some of the greatest names in surf lifesaving and built the foundations of the King Ironman Academy. There were highs… and there were challenges. His stint at Currumbin Vikings marked the lowest point of his career—but it also set the stage for one of the great comebacks.

    Now at Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park, Michael has cemented his reputation as one of Australia’s elite coaches. The result? An historic clean sweep in the Open Ironman at the National Titles—something never achieved in 111 years.

    This is a story of passion, resilience, and a life-long love for the sport.

    Discover more episodes and conversations with champions at The Perfect 10 website https://www.theperfect10.com.au

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  • Ep: 65 Ali Day – From Kiama to King of the Coolangatta Gold

    Ep: 65 Ali Day – From Kiama to King of the Coolangatta Gold

    Few athletes in surf sports history have dominated like Ali Day.

    Raised in Kiama, Day chased his surf lifesaving dream north — first to Mooloolaba, and eventually to the powerhouse Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club, where he has built one of the most remarkable careers the sport has seen.

    Day became the undisputed king of the legendary Coolangatta Gold, winning the gruelling endurance classic 11 times— an extraordinary record in one of the toughest races in sport.

    But his legacy stretches far beyond the Gold. A World Ironman Champion, a six-time winner of the Ironman Series, 4 x Australian Ironman champion, Day has spent more than a decade at the very top of the sport.

    Now, as he prepares to bring the curtain down on a stellar career just shy of his 36th birthday, Day has delivered one more remarkable chapter — claiming this year’s Shaw and Partners Ironman Series title in spectacular fashion at Miami Beach.

    And there’s one last chapter to be written. In a fortnight, he’ll chase another National Ironman crown at The Aussies at North Kirra.

    In this episode of The Perfect 10, Ali reflects on the journey from the South Coast to the Gold Coast, the mindset behind dominating the Coolangatta Gold, and the moments when even he wondered if the streak might end.

    He also speaks about life beyond the surf — and the support of his family, wife Kel and their two boys Danny and Andy.

    It’s the story of endurance, evolution and one of the greatest careers surf sports has ever seen.

    Discover more episodes and conversations with champions at The Perfect 10 website https://www.theperfect10.com.au

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  • Ep: 60 World Surf Ski Champion Jemma Smith – Endurance, Excellence & Going One Better

    Ep: 60 World Surf Ski Champion Jemma Smith – Endurance, Excellence & Going One Better

    Some athletes explode out of the blocks.
    Others grow stronger the longer the race goes.

    Jemma Smith belongs firmly in the second category – and in my opinion, she is one of the most under-rated athletes in Australia.

    A two-time World Ocean Ski Champion and winner of the iconic Coolangatta Gold, Jemma knows what it takes to endure — physically, mentally, and emotionally. In this episode, she reflects on one of the most defining moments of her career: her second-place finish at the 2019 Coolangatta Gold, the closest finish in the event’s history.

    For many, that moment could have been a lifelong “what if”.
    For Jemma, it fuelled the fire, and drove her to a new level of excellence.

    She opens up about how that narrow defeat sharpened her resolve, reshaped her preparation, and ultimately drove her to go one better on one of surf lifesaving’s most unforgiving stages.

    At just 26, Jemma continues to redefine consistency and longevity. She is the winner of an extraordinary 12 Champion Lifesaver titles at the Australian Championships, a record that speaks volumes about her all-round mastery of the sport.

    Away from competition, Jemma is already giving back, coaching the next generation of sprint kayakers through her role at the NSW Institute of Sport.

    This is a conversation about patience, perspective, and the power of using disappointment as a turning point — with one of Australia’s finest endurance athletes.

    Discover more episodes and conversations with champions at The Perfect 10 website https://www.theperfect10.com.au

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