INSPIRATIONAL: LCDR Doug Griffiths tackles the Ironman WA triathlon as part of Team Maclean.

Sometimes competing for yourself just isn’t enough.
That’s the attitude that drove accomplished triathlete LCDR Doug Griffiths on his return to competition to compete for Ironman WA’s official charity the John Maclean Foundation’s Team Maclean.

The Deputy Commander COMAUSMCDTG from the Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Task Group returned to the sport after a two year absence caused by sea and injury, to undertake the triathlon at Busselton, WA, over a 3.8km swim, 180.2km ride and 42.2km run.

LCDR Griffiths said racing as part of the John Maclean Foundation gave him an extra sense of purpose.

“As the official charity for Ironman WA, the John Maclean Foundation supports kids in wheelchairs and provides them with opportunities they previously may not have been able to achieve or imagine,” he said.

“The foundation is founded on the strength and vision of John Maclean who, as an aspiring Rugby League player, was struck by a truck while out training on his bike, which left him as a paraplegic. Despite his physical challenges, John has achieved more than most able-bodied athletes may ever dream to achieve.”

John has gone on to become the first physically challenged athlete to successfully complete the Hawaiian Ironman, was the first Australian inducted to the Ironman Hall of fame, has swum the English Channel and has represented Australia at the Sydney Olympics and Paralympics.

“No longer was completing the act of crossing the line for self-satisfaction. Racing as part of Team Maclean provided an extra lift and an extra level of determination as if racing for a more important goal.”

Ironman WA is a relatively new event on the global race calendar and adds another venue to Australia’s official qualifying events for the Ironman world championships in Hawaii – making Australia only the second country outside the USA to do so – and on race day just under 700 competitors lined up to commence a rough water swim around Busselton’s famous jetty.

Facing rough seas whipped up by an evening of thunderstorms that delayed the official race start, LCDR Griffiths faced a flat, but challenging and windy bike course, followed by blistering hot conditions on the run before finishing in a time more than an hour slower than his personal best with a time of 11hrs 21min, and in 182nd place. But LCDR Griffiths said it was with a greater level of satisfaction than in previous events.

The motto of the John Maclean Foundation is that the pain will not last forever but the memory will, which LCDR Griffiths said was something he considered during the event.

“That memory is the sense of achievement and the sense that in a small way the extra effort that was achieved from racing in a team like Team Maclean will assist the futures of those kids less fortunate.”

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