As the sun beat down on the golden sands of Maroubra Beach, Olivia Corrin crossed the finish line first in the Nurti-Grain Ironwoman's third round — cementing herself into history while doing so.
The Gisborne-born athlete became the first New Zealand woman to win a round of the endurance surf sport series on Saturday. It sees 40 of the fittest, fastest athletes vie for the crown through six gruelling rounds across Australia.
"I had dreams going to sleep at night about how amazing it would feel to cross the line [in] first place, but nothing compares to the real thing," the 23-year-old gushed.
Corrin told 1News that winning a round of the coveted event has been a "childhood dream" since she first joined Midway Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) at age five.
"I still can't believe it now, it's such a special moment for me. All the sacrifices, all the blood, sweat and tears, it just made it all worth it in this moment because I've been striving for god knows how long to be on top of that podium," she laughed.
Since moving to Australia and joining Northcliffe surf club in 2019, Corrin has competed consecutively in the series and said it's taken "a good three to even four [years] of racing to really find my feet".
"It's just another level of racing when you line up against the 20 best females in the world really, there's just so much more skill, tactics and experience that goes into that kind of ironwoman racing," she said.
Strong performances throughout the day saw Gold Coast-based Corrin go off on the starting gun at the same time as Analise Kibble, pitting the two youngsters just ahead of defending Series champion Georgia Miller.
"To have learnt from the older girls that came before me and now being able to put all my work into play and actually challenge those girls is really exciting."
Corrin said crossing the finish line first was made "extra special" knowing that her surf community back home in Gisborne were "all watching and cheering me on from afar".
"Our coach back home in Midway, Jack Gavin, organised all the young athletes to go and watch my races at the club and parents [to] go and watch as well," she said.
"To come from such a close, I guess, close-knit community in Gisborne and Midway SLSC, it's just really heartwarming."
Midway SLSC's head coach Jack Gavin coached Corrin when she was younger and said she takes "a lot of pride" in where she comes from.
"Liv came from a small little Gisborne town and has worked hard to achieve what she has," he said.
Corrin echoed this: "From moving out of a tiny town to a big city overseas like this, I just remember where I come from and my grassroots back where it started and to where it's flourished to now."
Gavin said Corrin is "really good with the younger athletes" and having her back over the holidays to train alongside the wider squad and help coach the juniors has been "awesome".
"She's becoming a real leader, you know? And I've got two or three, [even] four girls in my squad that have the potential to do exactly what she's done, so it just shows them it's actually achievable," he said.
Corrin said she spent years looking up to past Kiwi ironmen and women such as Mairangi Bay's Danielle Mckenzie and Midway's Cory Taylor.
Now she has her own advice for young athletes wanting to pursue their surf sport goals.
"If they're determined and they're hungry enough to win, they will achieve. Just to chase those dreams and to never give up."
"But most importantly, just to have fun along the way and do not put too much pressure on yourself because I struggled with that a lot when I was younger," she said.
Corrin currently sits at second in overall points for the series, which finishes on February 4. She said she has a "massive month-and-a-half" ahead, with six weekends of back-to-back racing — including the final two rounds — to go.
"My goal is to re-qualify, so as long as I have two good rounds and just keep composed, focus on what I need to do and get the job done I'm happy wherever I finish," she laughed.
"But being second on the points is unreal, so I'm just happy to be there really."
Round 5 of the Nutri-Grain Iron series kicks off at 2pm on February 3, and can be viewed live on SBS & Sky Sport.
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