MEET GINA

ABOUT

"MY BIGGEST JOY IS SEEING PEOPLE BECOME THEIR BETTER SELVES"

I was a swimmer from a young age through to 17 years at which point I went off to University to study and then on to work as a high school teacher. I didn’t get back into any sport for 8 years until at the age of 25 I decided to get myself fit and started training and competing in running and small triathlon events. I fell in love with the sport straight away and within 2 years I completed my first Ironman finishing 5th place in March 2007. Since then I would say I have become addicted to the sport and on my 3rd Ironman attempt in September 2007 I took my first victory (Ironman Wisconsin) in a new course record. I have 40 Iron distance finishes including 13 wins, 12 second or 3rd places, 4 times top 10 Hawaii Ironman World Championships, making me one of the most prolific and still consistent iron distance performers in the sport.

My focus is now on passing on my love and knowledge of the sport to others to help them achieve their own personal goals and I have now helped around 200 athletes to do this, ranging from complete novices through to helping top age group athletes achieve their dream of a Kona spot.

Some interesting points about me.

I self-coached myself to 6 iron distance victories and 5 half iron distance victories. 13 top 3 performances and 2 top 10 at Ironman World Championships.

I have also had the opportunity to work with and pick the minds of some of the best coaches in the business and have learnt a huge amount to pass on.

I have during my time in the sport done a huge amount of reading on different coaching techniques as well as other areas such as nutrition, strength and conditioning.

I have a degree in Psychology which has helped me in my sporting endeavours and also a degree in Teaching, and was a teacher before embarking in over a decade of professional sport.

I am an Ironman Certified Coach, Triathlon NZ accredited coach and a certified Personal Trainer, but much of what I have to give comes from my huge experience in the sport. You just can't learn this through a qualification.

I am a very hard working and dilligent person who cares a lot about helping others.

My main reason for coaching is I feel I have devoted enough time in the pursuit of my own goals and I really want to give back to a sport that I love and care so much about.I feel I have a lot to give and am very enthusiastic about being included in the journey inhelping others' in achieving their goals.

I still train every day in this sport but race mainly small and local running events. Although I will be back from time to time racing half ironman races as an amateur, with two children a lot of my training now incorporates them with moutain biking and following the kids sporting endeavours. I am enjoying not being so serious in my own training, allowing me more time to help others reach their dreams, and I find it much more rewarding.