Could you imagine swimming, running and biking a combined 226km in less than 10 hours?
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For many, it sounds like a gruelling experience, but for a special few, it’s a challenge and an impressive feat they spend months training to accomplish.
Former Cobram-Barooga local Matt Brooks is one of those people, recently qualifying for the Ironman World Championships after a competition in March earlier this year.
The competition was held in Lake Taupo, New Zealand and involved a 3.8km swim followed by a 180km bike ride and a 42.2km run.
Matt placed 73 out of 1000 competitors, taking only nine hours and 38 minutes to complete the course.
He finished fourth in his age group against 72 others, narrowly missing out on a podium place by just 23 seconds.
After placing so high in the competition, Matt has now qualified for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii later this year.
“I was really excited, but also terrified,” he said.
Matt’s partner Damien and cousin Carly travelled to New Zealand for the competition, cheering him on from the sidelines.
“The fact that they were both there, and they travelled all the way to New Zealand to support me, was pretty special,” he said.
Matt competed in his first Ironman only three years ago in December 2024, in Busselton, WA.
“I went into that one thinking, ‘I'll just do it and get through it,’ and I did it in nine hours and 55 minutes,” he said.
“I had such a great day, it just gave me the thrill of doing these types of races, and that’s why I signed up to do another one the following year in Busselton.”
Unfortunately, Matt injured himself in September 2025, just three months before the race.
“I fell off my bike and sprained a joint in my shoulder, which meant that I couldn’t swim, even running was a challenge,” he said.
“I still went to Busselton and did the Ironman, but I failed spectacularly.
“I had to stop about 30 kilometres into the run, my legs just gave up on me, and I was devastated.
“So after that race, I said, ‘I’m just going to put my head down for the next three months and get ready for New Zealand.’”
Matt achieved a new personal best at the New Zealand competition and said he was “thrilled” to make such a comeback.
“I was absolutely exhausted at the end of the race,” he said.
“It was probably the hardest I've ever pushed myself.
“I felt like I was going to die for probably half an hour after the race, but I was really proud.”
In a few months time, Matt will begin training for the World Championships with Cobram coach Michael Lindeback, who competed in Hawaii in 2023.
Leading up to a competition, he spends almost 25 hours a week training.
“On your big weeks I can spend 10 to 14 hours riding, then five hours running and another four hours swimming,” he said.
“Then you’ve got to add strength training and the gym in there, so it’s pretty crazy.”
Matt said he has “zero expectations” leading up to the world championships as he will be up against the top athletes from around the world.
“It’s more about the challenge and having the opportunity to do it,” he said.
He added that preparing for the race is critical, as there are many factors that can have a negative impact on competitors.
“It’s apparently 100% humidity, so over exhaustion, overheating and not taking on enough fluid are all things to consider,” he said.
“I think the run will be the hardest because it’s out on the highway in the open sun, at the hottest part of the day.
“It is psychopathic that people want to do this, but it is a big, once in a lifetime thing.”
Matt’s parents will be flying over for the competition to support him alongside his partner Damien.
The Ironman World Championships will be held in Kona, Hawaii, on October 10, and will be available to stream online across various networks.