Childhood on the Farm
Kylie grew up on a cattle farm just outside of Warwick, Qld Australia. Early memories are of a simple country farm life working on the land from a very early age having been assigned daily choirs such as feeding animals, cutting firewood, pumping water. By grade 4 Kylie found her love for running, winning her first race at Primary School, the 800m.
Boarding School
Kylie’s High School years were spent at Scots PGC College in Warwick QLD where she boarded, a common practice for families that live on farms. Running became a bit more serious but not in replacement of weekend farming work.
Running Career begins
After High School Kylie moved to the big smoke of Brisbane & began a career in the property sector following in her Father & GrandFathers footsteps. During these years Kylie joined Roy Rankin’s run group & began taking running more seriously, culminating in racing the 2015 World Mountain Running Championships in Wales UK.
First Triathlon & work life
Kylie’s Running career wasn’t without it’s challenges as she suffered quite a few injuries which led her to incorporate cycling & swimming into her training program. While progressing her career with companies such as RetireAustralia & Aveo as a Development Manager, Kylie was looking for a change in direction & entered the Noosa Triathlon as a bit of fun. That decision would shape the next chapter in her life.
Runner turned Triathlete
Kylie loved that first triathlon experience so much & with her running career constantly being halted by injury she contacted coach Cam Watt at TheHills-District Triathlon squad to see what potential she could have as a Triathlete. They began work in 2019, the biggest challenge learning to swim in her 30’s, no easy feat. Kylie began racing for experience in early 2020 and the first steps were taken in her new career.
Ironman Champion
In 2020 Kylie competed in her first Ironman Triathlon in Cairns coming 4th but very close to the 3 podium winners. This first Ironman gave Kylie confidence that with more time she could really progress in her new sport. 12months later in 2021 Kylies hard work & dedication paid off & she won her first Ironman in Cairns with a new Run Course record. 5months later she backed it up with winning the 2021 Busselton Ironman.
2021 wasn’t all champagne though, as Kylie experienced her first bike crash while preparing for her first international race. Kylie shattered her hand which required 2 surgeries to fix plates and screws & would plague her 2022 year & swim progress.
2022 wasn’t all lost though, & included Kona Ironman debut, 2 Ironman 70.3/Ironman podiums in Mexico. There was insight into Kylies brilliant 2023 season towards the end of 2022 where her bike/run times were the fastest of the races which had some highly ranked international athletes. The difference between Kylie & victory was the swim.
2023 began & with her hand operations behind her Kylie was able to focus more on her swim. The improvements came steadily, but it showed on race day & Kylie was able to limit her losses in Ironman Australia & Cairns in the water to the leaders, combined with her now course record bike/run splits was able to convincingly win Iroman Australia & Ironman Cairns Asia-Pacific Championships in course record time.
