Anything’s Possible at Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival

Kids to be cheering on the adults Sunday after there success Saturday. Photo Supplied: Cait Fleming.

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Olympians, Ironman champions and amateurs alike will line up on Airlie Beach's foreshore later this month, as the 26th Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival turns the town into one of North Queensland's premier sporting destinations.

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Held across July 25 and 26, the festival has events for athletes of all ages and abilities, including standard, sprint and enticer triathlons, an ocean swim and the popular McDonald's Junior Triathlon.  

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Racing begins and finishes at the Airlie Beach Lagoon, where athletes first tackle a tropical open-water swim in the calm waters of Airlie Bay. From there, competitors head onto the bike course, following the picturesque coastal road to Mandalay before returning to town. The event concludes with a foreshore run through the heart of Airlie Beach, where supporters line the course to cheer competitors across the finish line.  

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“When you complete a triathlon, you're not just a runner or a swimmer or a cyclist, you're a multi-sport finisher,” said Race Director and Triathlete himself, Michael Kempton.  

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“To achieve that is remarkable.”  

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Michael's own triathlon journey started in Airlie Beach after he moved here in 2016. Having done little running before then, he was convinced by a neighbour to give the local Parkrun a try.  

“Parkrun? Crikey, I can't even run across the other side of the road, you want me to do a parkrun?" he said.

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Six months later he crossed his first 5km finish line, before taking on his first triathlon at Hamilton Island in 2017.

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He was immediately hooked. Inspired by the camaraderie of the sport, Michael worked his way through sprint and standard-distance races before completing a full Ironman in Cairns in 2022.  

He now represents Australia in Ironman competitions around the world, a journey he hopes inspires others to take that first step themselves.

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"I didn't look back and I just got addicted," Michael said.  

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This year's field will see a host of world-class competitors flying through the course, including reigning Airlie Beach Triathlon champion Josh Ferris, former Commonwealth Games silver medallist Jake Birtwhistle and recent Ironman Cairns champion Penny Slater, with all three expected to be among just some of the favourites on race day.  

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Despite the elite talent on the start line, Michael says the event is just as welcoming for those considering their first triathlon.

"Anything's possible, so give it a crack,” Michael said.  

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“You've got nothing to lose."  

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The young triathletes will also have their chance to shine, with the McDonald's Airlie Beach Junior Triathlon returning to the Airlie Beach Lagoon on Saturday afternoon.

They will take on a swim in the lagoon before tackling a closed beachfront bike course and finishing with a run along the foreshore, with plenty of opportunities for family and friends to cheer them on from the sidelines.  

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Presentations will follow the event on the main stage, with two brand new bicycles to be randomly awarded to participating juniors.  

Entries are still open, with organisers encouraging anyone considering the challenge to sign up before race weekend arrives.  

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WHAT: Airlie Beach Triathlon Festival

WHERE: Airlie Beach Lagoon, Broadwater Ave  

WHEN: July 25 and 26

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