ADFA Girls Take Out International Aquathon

By Julia Nikolic
28 October 2008

Some of the finest athletes from Defence Academies worldwide gathered recently in Tongyeong City for the 5th Annual Admiral Yi, Sun-Shin Aquathon. Competitors from France, Britain, the USA, Russia, Korea and Australia travelled to Tongyeong City for the event.

In overcast conditions, the athletes completed the 1km open water swim and 10km run. A hush descended on the athletes on the pontoon as they prepared to take the plunge into the choppy bay, and the gun sounded for the dive start. A large crowd lined the transition area to cheer on the competitors as they left the water and set off for the gruelling waterside run that seemed to stretch on forever. The run leg included a steep climb before the competitors were rewarded with a downhill stretch to the finish line. The international bonds that were formed in the lead up to the race were evident on the day, with high fives and words of encouragement as competitors passed each other after the run turnaround.

ADFA sent three competitors who performed extremely well:

  • OCDT Denna Fryer placed 1st in the female solo category, in 1 hour and 23 seconds

  • OCDT Julia Nikolic placed 2nd in the female solo category, in 1 hour 2 minutes and 12 seconds

  • MIDN Kyle Rensford placed 8th in the highly competitive male solo category, in 59 minutes and 24 seconds

MIDN Rensford and OCDTs Fryer and Nikolic are all members of the ADFA Triathlon club and train three times a week.

Following the completion of the race, competitors were awarded participation medals and ushered to massage tables, where university students studying sports massage worked on easing the pain experienced during the competition. The award ceremony that followed was moving and emphasised the international aspect of the event. The national flags of the winning athletes were raised behind the podium. In the female event, OCDT Fryer and OCDT Nikolic placed 1st and 2nd respectively, and the Australian anthem was played as the flags were raised. The American competitors took out the top 4 places in the men's event.

In addition to the bonds formed with competitors from a variety of countries, the trip also offered an opportunity for the ADFA competitors and their accompanying staff, SGT Paul James and CAPT Luke Hodda, to experience the culture of South Korea and visit sites of cultural and military significance. The Australian group spent six days in Seoul prior to travelling to Tongyeong for the race. They visited locations including the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), a traditional folk village, the Korean National War Memorial, and the Korean Naval Academy as well as several palaces.

The efforts of the Australians in this race continued a superb tradition of high performance set by ADFA competitors from recent years.

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