Heart of a Champion (20 page)

‘During his amazing career Greg proved that, despite being slight of build, he was a giant when it came to the sport of triathlon. He was one of the few athletes in the history of the sport who was a threat to win every single time he stepped to the line, no matter the distance. From 20-minute super sprints to 8-hour Ironman distance events, no one ever did it better than Greg Welch.

‘He was also an entertainer and a showman. He was capable of focusing and racing to win while still realising he was there to entertain. He managed to connect with fellow competitors and fans.

‘I've never seen a harder racer than Greg. I often felt he may have had an inkling that time was not on his side. He crammed 20 seasons into 10 years. He jammed everything into his life. He competed constantly. He loved competing, he loved travelling, meeting new people, partying, being Greg Welch.

‘He's been an inspiration in the way he's adapted to his health problems. It's a pleasure to call him my friend.'

M
ARK

And Mark Allen, arguably the greatest all-round triathlete of them all— along with Greg—has this to say: ‘Greg is a human being extraordinaire. There's no one whom I met in the sport of triathlons who could bridge so many gaps, from all race distances to athletes of all ages, genders and abilities. He's also bridged life by looking at death, and he reminded every single one of us that we are mortal, that we gotta make every single moment count—just be grateful for every second you have.'

Greg Welch
Career Highlights

 

World Champion, 1994 Ironman Triathlon World Championships

World Champion, 1990 World Triathlon Championships

World Champion, 1993 World Duathlon Championships

World Champion, 1996 World Long Distance Triathlon Championships

Named 1994 Triathlete-of-the-Year and 1994 Sports Star of the Year by
Triathlete
and
Competitor
magazines

Named 1994 Sports Star of the Year, Caltex Gold Oscar for New South Wales, Australia

Two-Time Champion, 1992 and 1994 Ironman Japan Triathlon

Multiple-Time Winner, Triathlon World Cup (1996–99)

Winner, 1999 Mrs. T's Chicago Triathlon

Winner, 1997 World Nature Games Triathlon

Winner, 1997 and 1992 Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon

US Pro Champion, 1992, 1993 and 1999

National Champion, 1992 Australian Sprint Triathlon Championships

Second Place, 1991 Ironman Triathlon World Championships

Bronze Medal, 1990 Commonwealth Games Triathlon

Third Place, 1989 and 1996 Ironman Triathlon World Championships

Runner-Up, 1994, 1995 and 1996 Triathlon Grand Prix Series

Ironman World Championships

 

PLACE - 11
YEAR - 1999
SWIM - 0:54:28
BIKE - 4:53:19
RUN - 2:46:51
TOTAL - 8:40:50

PLACE - 3
YEAR - 1996
SWIM - 0:51:23
BIKE - 4:35:43
RUN - 2:51:51
TOTAL - 8:18:57

PLACE - 4
YEAR - 1995
SWIM - 0:51:47
BIKE - 4:46:31
RUN - 2:50:56
TOTAL - 8:29:14

PLACE - 1
YEAR - 1994
SWIM - 0:50:22
BIKE - 4:41:07
RUN - 2:48:58
TOTAL - 8:20:27

PLACE - 6
YEAR - 1992
SWIM - 0:49:32
BIKE - 4:37:20
RUN - 3:00:01
TOTAL - 8:26:53

PLACE - 2
YEAR - 1991
SWIM - 0:51:02
BIKE - 4:45:21
RUN - 2:48:10
TOTAL - 8:24:34

PLACE - 5
YEAR - 1990
SWIM - 0:51:51
BIKE - 4:52:20
RUN - 3:01:56
TOTAL - 8:46:07

PLACE - 3
YEAR - 1989
SWIM - 0:51:39
BIKE - 4:43:43
RUN - 2:56:53
TOTAL - 8:32:15

Index

Illustrations are indicated in
italics.

A

• Allen, Mark 16, 17, 88, 104–10, 133, 137–41, 144, 145, 155, 220, 269,
  269
  
• Anderson, Scott 111
  
• Anderson, Spot 100–1,
  106
  , 111
  
• apprenticeship as plasterer 61–2
  
• Around Oahu Bike Ride 35
  
• asthma 188–94, 198, 205
  
• Australian Cross-Country Championships (Darwin) 91
  
• Australian Road Championships (Perth) 92
  
• Avignon 103–4
  

B

• Babbitt, Bob 36, 162, 199, 205, 268
  
• Baker, Erin 17, 88
  
• Baker, John
  133
  
• Bannister, Paul 74
  
• Barel, Rob 103
  
• Bevan, Brad 100–3,
  106
  , 111,
  113
  , 161
  
•    accompanies Greg to San Diego 116–17, 119, 123
  
•    in USA 133, 135
  
• birth of daughters 222–3, 230
  
• Blizzard, Arthur 62, 63–4, 87, 100, 106–7, 112, 116
  
• Blizzard, Jan 62
  
• Bonham, Louise 100–1, 104
  
• Brunker, Peter 73, 74, 76, 77, 79, 83, 84
  
• Buchan, Warren 74
  
• Bustos, Cristian 154
  

C

• Camp, Brad 91
  
• Caringbah (Greg's house) 217, 229
  
• Carlson, Tim 207
  
• Carr, Dr Ken 201–2, 207
  
• Cashman, Mark 90
  
• Castella, Robert de 61, 91
  
• Chicago Triathlon (1989) 104,
  106
  
• childhood (Greg's) 42, 43–55,
  46
  ,
  47
  ,
  51
  , 58–9
  
• children
  
•    Annie 222,
  223
  ,
  237
  
•    Emma 230,
  237
  
•    decision to have 220–3
  
• coaching (by Greg) 211, 251
  
• Collins, John 35–6, 119
  
• commentating 211, 214, 247
  
•    at Hawaiian Ironman 17, 219–20
  
•    for ironmanlive.com 204
  
•    at Sydney Olympics 216–18
  
• Commonwealth Games 1990 (Auckland) 111–12
  
• Cook, Glenn 104
  
• Cooney, Tom 104–5
  
• counselling (for Greg) 237, 240–5
  
• Croft, Nick 22, 100–2, 103, 104
  
• Crone, Peter 241–6,
  242
  , 247
  
• Cronulla Surf Club 68, 91–2
  

D

• defibrillator 215, 224–5, 228
  
•    shocks by 229, 231–6
  
• dehydration, effects of 151–2
  
• Denny, Leonie 64–5, 73, 75, 107, 126
  
• Denny, Michelle 64–5
  
• Devlin, Jeff 144, 145
  
• Dittrich, Wolfgang 144, 154, 167
  
• Doohan, Nick 218
  
• Dunbar, John 36
  
• Dunn, Michael 135
  

E

• earnings 106, 135–6
  
• Elford, Janelle 111–12
  
• erythropoietin (EPO) 174–5, 206
  
• ESPN TV 211
  
• Esselstyn, Rip 22
  

F

• fatherhood 222–3, 228–31, 236
  
• Fertic, Ben 204
  
• fittest man on earth (
  60 Minutes
  ) 10, 190, 191
  
• Forbes, Glenn 86
  
• Forster Ironman (1986) 77, 79, 83, 85–6
  
• Foster, Steve 90, 111,
  113
  , 117, 133
  
• France, first trip to 100–4
  
• Fraser, Dawn 200
  
• Frey, Roch 205, 234, 262–3
  
• Frost, Geoff 100–2
  
• Fuhr, Heather 205, 234, 263–4
  

G

• Gallagher, Colleen 118, 120
  
• Gang, Dr Eli 203, 204
  
• German Ironman (1995) 164
  
• Glah, Kenny 21–8, 88, 104, 110, 133, 144, 149
  
• Global Sports Marketing Manager, Multisports 249
  
• Grand Prix (1994) 19
  
• Great Lakes International Ironman (1985) 64
  
• Greenacre (Greg's life in) 44–55
  
• Greenacre Grasshoppers 49,
  53
  
• Greenacre Primary School 49
  

H

• haemochromatosis 173–6, 205
  
• haemorrhoids 16, 152, 206
  
• Haller, Gordon 36
  
• Harding, Dick 63–4
  
• Hawaiian Ironman 10, 30–1, 34–8, 74
  
•    Greg's qualification for 85, 86–7
  
•    origin of 35–6
  
•    (1978) 36
  
•    (1979) 36
  
•    (1980) 36–7
  
•    (1981) 37
  
•    (1982) 37–8
  
•    (1984) 74
  
•    (1987) 9–10, 16, 87–9
  
•    (1988) 16, 92–3,
  98
  
•    (1989) 16,
  82
  , 108–10
  
•    (1990) 124
  
•    (1991) 16, 143–6,
  145
  
•    (1992) 16, 152–4,
  269
  
•    (1993) 15–16, 17,
  136
  
•    (1994) 10,
  14
  , 15, 19–31,
  20
  ,
  24
  ,
  27
  , 162–4
  
•    (1995) 165,
  166
  
•    (1996) 167
  
•    (1999) 10,
  184
  , 187–95
  
•    (2000) 219–20
  
•    (2003) 247
  
•    (2004) 11
  
• health problems
  see
  asthma; haemochromatosis; haemorrhoids; viral infection; v-tach
  
• heart rate, Greg's control of 176, 191
  
• Hellreigel, Thomas 167
  
• Hill, Chris 180
  
• Holt, John 70
  
• Honolulu Marathon 35
  
• Hopkins family 63, 64, 84, 87
  
• Hopkins, Bruce 60, 64, 71–2
  
• Hopkins, Cameron 60
  
• Hopkins, Scott 60
  
• house dad (Greg) 228
  
• Houseman, Glen 112
  
• Huddle, Paul 94, 134, 139–41, 205, 235
  

I

• immune system, depression of in triathletes 138–9, 185–6
  
• injuries
  
•    collarbone 60
  
•    knee 17–19,
  18
  , 158, 162
  
•    ribs 117–18
  
•    toe 179
  
•    wrists 162
  
• International Grand Prix Series 1996 165
  
• International Triathlon Short-Course
  
•    Championships 1989 100–4,
  105
  
• International Triathlon Union (ITU)
  see
  World Cup series
  
• Ironman competitions
  see
  Hawaiian
  
•    Ironman
  
• Ironman Japan
  
•    (1992) 16, 147,
  148
  
•    (1994) 162
  
• Ironman Triathlon World Championships 34
  
•    
  see also
  Hawaiian Ironman
  
• Ironman World Title (1994) 165
  
• ironmanlive.com 204, 211, 247, 253
  
• Irving, Harold 36
  

J

• Jessup, Jack (Pop) 43, 45–8,
  46
  , 50, 58
  
• Jones, Michellie 218,
  251
  

K

• Kalil, Adrian 194
  
• Kemper, Hunter 180
  
• King, Jo 217
  
• Kiuru, Pauli 110, 144
  
• Kropko, Peter 23, 25, 26–8
  

L

• LA Triathlon (2003)
  249
  
• Laguna Phuket Triathlon 178
  
• Laird, Dr Bob 194
  
• Lake Illawarra triathlon 71–3
  
• Lake Macquarie Triathlons 90, 100, 111
  
• Legh, Sarah 190, 192
  
• Lemaire, Lyn 36
  
• Lessing, Simon 178
  
• Lierde, Luc Van 167
  
• Loader, Steve 218
  
• Los Angeles (house) 222, 231
  

M

• Mackie, Dr Ian 200, 212
  
• Mackle, Patty 205
  
• Mackle, Rob 135, 144, 205
  
• Macpherson, Kay 126, 127, 158, 259–61,
  260
  
• Maguire, Dr Mark 212–15
  
• Major, Kate
  251
  
• Maroney, Mick 84, 90, 96–100, 111, 144
  
• McAvaney, Bruce 217–18
  
• McCaffery, Frank 61
  
• McCartney, Kathleen 37–8
  
• McCormack, Chris 177, 180
  
• McDonald, Julie 112
  
• McKinnon, Kevin 268
  
• McMichael, Michael 189
  
• meditation 246–7
  
• Methion, Philippe 102
  
• Molina, Scott 88, 133, 139
  
• Moneghetti, Steve 61, 91
  
• Morero, Mickey 121, 124, 147–8, 205
  
• Moss, Julie 37–8, 140
  
• Mrs. T's Pierogies 135, 163
  
• Mrs. T's Pierogies Chicago Triathlon (1999) 179
  
• multisports.com 253
  
• Munting, Nick 264
  

N

• natural ability (Greg's) 99
  
• New Start Homes 156–7
  
• Newby-Fraser, Paula 17, 88, 93–4, 110, 134–9,
  134
  , 152, 163, 165, 191, 194–5, 204, 205, 235, 262
  
• Nowra Triathlon 1986 76–9
  
• nutrition, Greg's attitude to 84, 137, 140
  
• NZ Ironman 211–12
  

O

• Oakley 249, 253
  
• Orange County Triathlon 146
  

P

• Paino, Frank 72–3
  
• Pallister, Rick 99, 107–8
  
• Perkins, Kieren 112, 218
  
• physical intelligence (Greg's) 97, 99
  
• Pigg, Mike 88, 104, 105, 133, 137
  
• plastering 9, 61–4, 84, 90, 107
  
• ‘Plucky' (Greg's nickname) 10, 90
  
• Pop
  see
  Jessup, Jack
  
• professional, Greg turns 112, 116
  
• proposal to Sian 154–5
  
• Punchbowl Boys High School 52–3, 58–9
  

R

• recovery 246–54
  
• recuperative abilities (Greg's) 96–8, 111
  
• Reilly, Mike 31, 205,
  258
  , 267
  
• Reinschreiber, Murphy 135, 205
  
• Reinschreiber, Shannon 205
  
• retirement
  
•    Greg's 205–7,
  207
  , 210
  
•    Sian's 215–16
  
• Richie Walker Memorial Triathlon 163
  
• Robinson, Dr Diana 173
  
• Royal National Park Triathlon (1989) 99
  
• Rukosuev, Alec 22
  
• running ability (Greg's) 50,
  51
  , 54–5, 61
  
• Ruse (Greg's life in) 58–62
  

S

• San Diego
  
•    centre for triathletes 119
  
•    Greg's move to 116, 123–4
  
•    Greg and Sian move back to 231
  
• San Diego International Triathlon (1990) 120–1
  
• Saucony 26
  
• Scott, Dave 16, 21–30,
  24
  , 37,
  39
  , 88, 109–10, 133, 137, 139, 143, 167, 220–1
  
• Scott, Dr Emily 206
  
• Scungies Run 95–6
  
• Seven Network 216, 217
  
• ‘Shorty' (Greg's nickname) 49, 52
  
• Skillicorn, Simon 117–19, 120, 131–2
  
• Smith, Spencer 180
  
• Southwell family 88
  
• Southwell, Bob 132
  
• Southwell, Chris 85, 132
  
• Southwell, John 107–8, 132,
  133
  , 144
  
• Southwell, Paul 132
  
• Southwell, Stephen 132
  
• Southwell, Tony 85, 132,
  133
  , 144
  
• Souza, Kenny 149
  
• sponsorships 26, 132, 135
  
• Sports Illustrated
  36
  
• squash 53, 59–60, 62, 64
  
• St George Triathlon Grand Prix (1997) 172
  
• Steadman, Dr Richard 162
  
• Stewart, Greg 99
  
• Stewart, Miles 104, 172
  
• Sutcliffe, Ken 147
  
• Sutherland Shire 60
  
• Sutton, Gary 71–2
  
• swimming (Greg's) 70, 97
  
• Sydney Olympics 10, 216–19
  
•    selection for 170–3, 178, 180–1
  

T

• Tamworth Triathlon 77
  
• The Great Race (Surfers Paradise) (1986) 75
  
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
  36
  
• Thornton, Dr Roger 192
  
• Tinley, Scott 88,
  89
  , 94, 116–17, 123–4, 133, 139–41, 163, 205, 206, 220,
  258
  
• Toga Run 94–5
  
• Tooheys Blue Series 161
  
• Toronto Triathlon 104
  
• Tour de Trout 139–41
  
• training (Greg's) 34–5, 64, 83–4
  
•    around work 90, 92, 107
  
•    as a professional 119–20, 139–42
  
•    at altitude 139–41, 149–52, 172–3
  
•    watching and learning 74–5, 97
  
• Triathlon Grand Prix 164
  
• triathlon, Greg's intro to 70–1
  
• Turner, Sue 100–1
  
• Twardzik, Tim 135, 163
  

U

• Unicomb, Tony 64–5
  
• US National Triathlon (1992) 16
  

V

• Vancouver Triathlon 104
  
• ventricular tachycardia 202
  
•    
  see also
  v-tach
  
• viral infection at Ironman (1999) 186, 207
  
• v-tach 10–11, 202, 205, 212–15, 219–20, 222–5, 234
  
•    cause of 207
  
•    first occurs 185–95, 198–200
  
• Vuckovic, Stephan 218
  

W

• Waikiki Rough Water Swim 35
  
• Walker, David 68, 70, 76, 77, 89, 163
  
• Walker, Liz 68, 70, 73–4, 76, 163
  
• Walker, Max 147
  
• Walker, Richard (Richie) 68–79,
  69
  ,
  78
  , 83, 84, 86, 89–90, 205
  
• Wanda sandhills 92, 107
  
• Warmsley, Paul 107
  
• Warren, Tom 36
  
• wedding (Greg and Sian's) 19, 158–9
  
• Welch, Annie 222,
  223
  , 229,
  237
  , 252–4,
  255
  
• Welch, Darren 45,
  46
  ,
  47
  , 48, 49, 50, 61
  
• Welch, Emma 230,
  237
  , 252–4,
  255
  
• Welch, Justin 48, 49, 50, 59
  
• Welch, Noelene
  42
  , 43–61, 84, 86–7, 126–7, 157–8, 233, 235,
  271
  
• Welch, Pat 43–62, 87, 126, 157–8,
  260
  ,
  271
  
• Welch, Sian 160–254,
  249
  ,
  252
  ,
  255
  
•    at Ironman (1999)
  184
  , 194
  
•    reaction to Greg's illness 203, 224, 230–45
  
•    retirement 215–16
  
•    returns to training 253
  
•    
  see also
  Williams, Sian
  
• Welchy cowboy leap 22
  
• Wells, Rick 104, 111, 133
  
• Welsh, Rick 105
  
• Whitfield, Simon 218
  
• Wide World of Sports
  (Nine Network) 9, 147
  
• Wide World of Sports
  (US) 37, 74
  
• Williams, Mary 123, 146–7, 155–7, 221, 224, 225, 232,
  255
  
• Williams, Robin 264–7,
  265
  
• Williams, Sian 121–3,
  122
  , 124–7, 146–51
  
•    marries Greg 19, 158–9
  
•    
  see also
  Welch, Sian
  
• Williams, Steven 156
  
• Williams, Vince 30, 123, 146–7, 155–6, 221, 225, 232,
  255
  
• withdrawal (Greg's) 221–2, 223–37
  
• Wollongong Triathlon (1989) 111
  
• World Championships
  
•    (1998) 178–9
  
•    (1999) 180, 185
  
• World Cup Series
  
•    (1997) 177–8
  
•    (1998) 179
  
•    (1999) 199, 201
  
• World Duathlon Championships (1993) 16, 165
  
• World Long-Distance Championships (1996) 165
  
• World Surf Championships (1988) 91–2,
  93
  , 165
  
• World Triathlon Championship (1990) 124,
  125
  , 165
  
• World Triathlon Corp. 253