Wellington woman earns IRONMAN New Zealand Tony Jackson Scholarship

Wellington woman earns IRONMAN New Zealand Tony Jackson Scholarship

12 August 2015, 2:55PM
Ironman New Zealand

A Wellington woman, currently completing her Masters Degree at Victoria University, is the second recipient of the Tony Jackson Scholarship, to partake in the 2016 Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IRONMAN New Zealand.

Nicola Grace, who has fought obesity problems for much of her 35 years and now plays a leading role in helping and supporting others to become active, will take on the biggest challenge of her life, to complete the 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42.2km marathon run in Taupo on 5 March 2016.

The scholarship was initiated in the name of Tony Jackson, who completed the first 28 annual IRONMAN New Zealand events but passed away in 2014. As well as his feat as an athlete, Jackson was instrumental in encouraging and motivating many “ordinary” people to achieve the extraordinary feat of an IRONMAN, and also raised many thousands of dollars for charity.

Grace weighed 135kg in January 2009 when she decided to seek a healthier lifestyle, and in the past six years has dropped 60kgs, turning to triathlon and running to turn her life around. She has now completed the Ironmaori Half distance event in Hawkes Bay three times and this year finished the Rotorua Marathon in 5:52.16.

“I have attended the last five IRONMAN New Zealand events in Taupo supporting whanau and friends and I feel that I am ready and excited to take the challenge on myself,” Grace said.

As a fulltime student completing her Masters – evaluating a Kaupapa Maori Weight Loss and Lifestyle change challenge that she developed –  Grace said she could not afford to contemplate her dream of competing in IRONMAN New Zealand.

The scholarship provides Grace with a complimentary entry to the event, two night accommodation at the Hilton Lake Taupo for training, Speed Theory bike fit, a Boost Coaching support package and training session with a professional triathlete.

Grace has also come under the guidance of Ngarama Milner-Olsen, a former Central Pulse netball professional, who runs her own gym and completed her first IRONMAN New Zealand in Taupo this year.
Grace plans on completing the Ironmaori event later this year in her preparation to IRONMAN New Zealand. She has also helped establish TriPoneke, a community group who support those wanting to live healthy lifestyles especially with an interest in triathlon.

“I respect and understand the values and dreams that Tony Jackson had for himself and others. And I believe what Tony has said that nothing is impossible to the willing mind.”

IRONMAN New Zealand said that Grace was the outstanding candidate among a significant number seeking the scholarship.

Details: www.ironmannewzealand.com

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