A jubilant Brayden Mercer soared to an unexpected victory at the Noosa Triathlon, marking a significant moment seven years after losing his father, Dean. The 20-year-old excelled in a competitive field, dominating the swim portion, powering through the bike segment, and outpacing Olympians Tayler Reid, Luke Willian, Jamie Riddle, and Jake Birtwhistle during the run. Mercer completed the race, consisting of a 1.5 km swim, a 40 km bike ride, and a 10 km run, in one hour, 43 minutes, and 20 seconds.
New Zealand’s Reid finished just 38 seconds behind, visibly struggling as he reached the line, while Australia’s Willian secured third place. Mercer celebrated his victory with his mother, Reen Corbett, a former surf lifesaving champion, and his three brothers, all while reflecting on his father’s enduring spirit following his tragic cardiac arrest in 2017. His uncle, Darren, a Hall of Famer, is the head coach at Noosa Heads.
Transitioning to triathlon from surf lifesaving three years ago, Mercer has set sights on the 2028 LA Olympics, aiming to uphold his family’s legacy. Meanwhile, two-time Olympian Gentle claimed her 10th consecutive title, preparing for her upcoming world championship in Dubai.