Mike Dixon announced as Team Australia flagbearer in Ibiza

Mike Dixon grew up on the eastern suburbs of Melbourne (Australia) and launched into the world of sport not long after learning how to walk. Starting out playing junior tennis and soccer, he went onto represent his high school in many sports, to then becoming a tennis coach in Australia and Germany. Dixon will be representing the Austrlian green and gold suit at the upcoming 2023 World Triathlon Multisport Championships Ibiza in the Sprint Duathlon on Saturday 29 April, Aquathlon on Monday 1st May and Aquabike on 7th May. Dixon has been named as the Australian team flag-bearer for the Parade of Nations, something he describes as an honour and privilege.

A SLICE OF SPORT HISTORY
In 2007, a friend of Mike’s took him for a 15-kilometre ride around Brisbane (Queensland, Australia) airport on his ‘clapped-out’ spare road bike.
‘I’d never ridden any longer than about 10 km on a bike before and duly told him that I never want to do that again. He replied “you’re going to have to because I’ve registered you for the Noosa Tri in November”.
The rest was history! Mike spent the first five years dabbling in the sport, turning up and putting in a conservative swim, ride and run effort. Around 2013, the Australian joined a Brisbane triathlon club (South Bank Triathlon Club), competing in triathlons with like-minded mates, raising the bar to a whole new height.

COMPETING FOR AUSTRALIA
‘I introduced my wife (Ana Oertel) to the sport in 2012 and not long after she was also ‘hooked’. We both decided to try out for the Aussie team for Chicago in 2015 – it was then that we really started to ‘step up’ the training. (Ana had already placed 4th at the long-distance world champs in Motala, Sweden in 2014). We rolled out of bed consistently (and reluctantly) at 4.30 am and rode four times a week around Brisbane, participated in countless running and swimming training sessions with our much beloved South Bank Tri Club and entered numerous local, state and national events over the following years.’
‘It was an absolute hoot receiving the Australian tri suit for the Chicago team in the mail and trying it on. I remember buying just about every item of clothing and accessory that was on offer that first time we made the team. It was very special to don the green and gold in Chicago and mingle amongst other Australian age-group triathletes. I remember being amazed by the blokes in the over 80 age group from Australia. I was in my 50s at the time and remember thinking “I hope I can keep this up when I’m well into my 80s too”. Riding through the tunnels of Chicago was an unforgettable experience – it’s not often you get to ride in a wind tunnel at an Olympic distance tri – to say the least. it was fast!’
‘Since Chicago 2015, I’ve been fortunate enough to have been selected for the Cozumel 2016, Fyn 2018 and Gold Coast 2018 teams. The 2016 Cozumel triathlon world championships in Mexico was a stand out for me. The event was extremely well organised, the Mexican team was well prepared and well trained, and it was stinking hot – 36 degrees in the shade with 80% humidity. Photographers in diving gear scoured the ocean floor in the crystal-clear Gulf of Mexico taking ‘finisher pics’ of athletes as they swam past, triathletes ‘dropped like flies’ in the standard distance run leg due to the heat and humidity, and the 50-metre running chute to the finish line reverberated with the booming cheers of family and friends who’d gathered in the crowd to support their own. Watching the elite pro male and female triathletes races was outstanding and I’ll not forget Alistair Brownlee carrying his exhausted brother, Jonny Brownlee, over the finish line. Mexican food, hospitality, culture and friendliness made for a fantastic world championships!”

THE MULTISPORT COMMUNITY
‘Many of the meetings you have with other athletes overseas at world championships events are only fleeting, albeit always friendly and memorable. There are numerous Australian athletes, however, who I’ve met at world championships and maintained a lasting friendship with as a result of being involved in triathlon. Some I train with and see regularly, others I can enjoy a yarn with before or after a race. These people all have a life outside of triathlon, but are involved in the sport for the same reasons as myself – health, fitness, travel, adventure, wellbeing and enjoyment.’
‘My father was a keen follower of all of my and my wife’s triathlon/multisport results. He struggled with technology and always found it difficult to find results whilst we were racing within Australia or overseas. He was a great sportsman himself and watched sports 24/7 on TV every day. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2021 – I’m sure he’d be chuffed with the news that his boy was selected as flagbearer for a world championship event!’

TO NOW
‘Training these days has not changed since the early days! Every year, we still belt out dozens of Mt Coot-tha bike climbs around Brisbane, enjoy numerous trail runs, club runs and Saturday parkruns, and swim at our local Musgrave Park Swimming Centre in Brisbane. This year, my wife and I have taken nine months leave from work and are travelling around Europe in a motorhome. Aside from competing in Ibiza, Hamburg and Pontevedra, I am really looking forward to doing some serious riding in the Alps and Pyrenees – cycling up some of those famous Tour de France mountains.”

WHAT ABOUT IBIZA
‘I’m absolutely looking forward to competing and being a part of these upcoming Ibiza Multisport Age Group World Championships. There are a few triathletes appearing on the Australian team who I think have a great chance of having a crack at either getting on the podium or even becoming world champion. I am looking forward to hearing of their results. I hope that everyone on the team gets over the finish line and posts a PB – that in itself would be a great achievement at an international world championship event. I’m looking forward to watching the professional and elite triathletes race, especially the PTO event on the Saturday. Personally, I would be stoked if I were to place in the top 10 in any one of the three events that I’m competing in. It’s important, however, to not get ahead of yourself – the competition out there is fierce and, after all, this is the world championships!’

WHAT KEEPS YOU MOTIVATED
“Lifelong health and fitness are the main reasons that I participate in multisport events. I also love the comradery with those with whom I train and compete against. There are no enemies in this sport – just like-minded individuals trying to give their best and achieve their own personal PBs. The training can be arduous, tedious and boring sometimes, but the overall outcome is positive. If you are trying to enhance your endurance, strength, power, flexibility and mental toughness – triathlon/multisport is the sport for you. The opportunity that multisport/triathlon opens up for travel, nationally or internationally, is extremely motivating – the anticipation of an upcoming overseas event really motivates one’s training.’

FAVOURITE SPORT MEMORY
“Sport has always played a major role in my upbringing and adult life. There have been numerous highlights over the decades. I have loved all the triathlon and multisport world championship events – the racing and time spent in the host cities. Some other stand-out experiences in sport generally include: winning the Veterans Mixed Tandem Team event at the 2020 Coast to Coast multisport event in New Zealand with my wife, winning the U10 JLMC and U13 Ampol Cups in soccer in Melbourne as a junior, losing to Wimbledon Champion Pat Cash in the U19 junior tennis semi-finals at the Echuca Easter tournament in the early 80s and placing 5th in the Aquabike at the 2018 World Triathlon Multisport Championships in Fyn.”

WORLD TRIATHLON HERO
‘My favourite Australian triathlete is Ashleigh Gentle – would love to see her take Gold at the Olympics, although she has concentrated more recently on longer-distance triathlons.’

World Triathlon wishes all athletes, competing in the 2023 World Triathlon Multisport Championships (29 April – 7 May), all the best! For the elite races, TriathlonLive.tv will have full coverage of the duathlon (including mixed relay), aquathlon and long distance triathlon events, and extended highlights of the cross duathlon and cross triathlon and with over 3,000 athletes from 61 countries competing for world titles, all age group races will have a finish line camera watchable on the platform.