Ironwoman Fitzsimmons retires after fairytale win
After collecting a record-breaking fourth Australian Surf Life Saving Ironwoman crown, Georgia Fitzsimmons has bid farewell to the sport.
The 28-year-old finished off a stellar career in style, surpassing Karla Gilbert's record for Ironwoman titles with a convincing win at North Kirra beach on the Gold Coast on Sunday.
Adding to her legend, Fitzsimmons is one of only three women to win the triple crown - the Australian, Coolangatta Gold and Iron Series.
"I am just speechless. I can't even remember what happened out there," an emotional Fitzsimmons said.
"Four (titles) is insane, and for it to be my last Ironwoman, I'm very happy to go out that way.
"I never thought I'd win one, let alone winning four.
"To have surpassed Karla (Gilbert) ... it's an incredible legacy to leave, and one I will be very proud of for the rest of my life.
"I said it before, but I've got to go buy a lottery ticket.
"I think I'm the luckiest girl on earth right now, and I'm definitely going to celebrate this and soak it all in."
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Fitzsimmons led from start to finish, taking a handy advantage after the first board leg, before making it a certainty during the swim.
Like Fitzsimmons, Ali Day won a fourth Australian title after winning the men's event by more than 30 metres.
At the beginning of the season he made surf sports history, claiming a record-breaking 10th Coolangatta Gold crown.
"I guess that's experience for me now being in things that's my 10th or 11th Australian Ironman final, I know how to stick to the race plan," Day said.
"North Kirra is a lucky beach for me.
"I came down here as like a 15-year-old and marvelled at Shannon Eckstein, Zane Holmes and Ky Hurst and thought, 'how cool would that be to one day be in the same arena' … and now I'm mentioned the same sentence as them, it's really special."
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