Australian Triathlete — December 2017

26 | AustrAliAn triAthlete

text by JodIe Cunnama

photogrAphy by Korupt vIsIon, Getty ImaGes, delly Carr and Itu medIa

That is some claim considering the

pedigree of triathlon in Australia, and the

stars it has produced. In any other

generation or decade Bella’s accolades

would have regularly made the national

A

nnabel Luxford (Bella) is a

name any decent triathlon

fan will know. You may be

forgiven for thinking Bella is

older than her years. With an elite career

spanning more than 20 years, it is difficult

to perceive that she is still only 35 years

old - a spring chicken in terms of elite

Ironman racers. She was a member of

the Australian Triathlon Team for the first

time in 1999. Six years on, she won the

ITU World Cup Series, and a further eight

years on, a medal at the Ironman 70.3

World Championships. Another four years

later (that’s 17 years on!), she lines up this

year as a main contender at the Ironman

World Championships. She still has her

own hips, complete collarbones and a

solid smile.

What led that scrawny, asthmatic and

ditzy Queensland girl to endure a literal

lifetime in elite sport? For that girl, that

woman now, to suspend her perpetual

need to attain “balance and security”, and

live as a professional athlete?

Not much has been written about this

established, some would say overlooked,

champion of Australian sport. There are

fewer articles than you would expect about

her on the Internet; less hype or publicity

follows her than does similar (or even

sub-) standard athletes. I’m privileged to

delve into the intelligent personality of

Annabel Luxford, but I also feel a

responsibility to ensure I pay suitable

tribute to the lesser-famed woman that

has played such a part in all areas of the

sport through the years. She really is an icon.

Results-wise Annabel Luxford could be

the most consistently successful

Australian woman across the years, and

across the distances of modern triathlon.

© Korupt Vision

Annabel

Out of the Shadows

Luxford