This morning I woke to extremely sad news.A pillar of the Australian sporting community, an absolu

This morning I woke to extremely sad news. A pillar of the Australian sporting community, an absolute legend of the world Triathlon community, and a personal idol and friend of mine for many years, has tragically passed. Jackie Fairweather (nee Gallagher) is a multiple world champion, winning two Wold Duathlon Titles & one World Triathlon Title, and was the first to win the 2 separate titles in the 1 year (1996 - and to my knowledge is still the only person to do so). Jackie also won a Commonwealth Games bronze medal in the Marathon in 2002. Integral to my personal ambition at the time, my memories now, and to the history of the sport of Triathlon in general, her awe-inspiring battles with fellow competitors Michellie Jones & Emma Carney, are the stuff of legend, and easily as monumental as anything any woman or man of the sport has contributed since. Personally, Jackie was responsible for my selection into first Australian Institute of Sport Triathlon Squad where she was head coach, and an important part of my early personal and sporting life. She was an extremely intelligent, focused and driven woman, and one of the toughest competitors Triathlon has ever seen, and likely ever will. The annals of Australian Sporting History are far richer because of her. I’ve been really quite rattled by the news of her sudden passing, and my heart goes out to those many many people who remained much closer to her than I did over the last ten years… especially, my thoughts and prayers are with her husband Simon. Jackie Fairweather, tragically gone at just 46 years young. May she now rest in peace. <3 Jake x -- source link

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