A sporting career that has already taken him to Olympic Games and cycling Grand Tours could be set for its crowning glory this weekend according to Cam Wurf.
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The versatile Tasmanian triathlete has already reached the pinnacle of two other sports but said winning the ironman world championship - having led it for the last two years - would trump them both.
"This is one of the most significant sporting events there is," Wurf said from Hawaii.
"I've had a crack at a couple in the Olympics and cycling in the WorldTour so it's an honour and privilege just to be here and even be a chance at succeeding.
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"I always dreamed of doing something significant in sport and this is my best chance to do it."
The 36-year-old has spent the last two weeks in Kona where on Sunday he will embark on a 3.8-kilometre swim, 180km ride and 42.2km run.
He warmed up by winning last month's Ironman Italy title in a personal best time and course record of 7:46:54, after which he referenced his pro cycling days when asked about the upcoming world titles.
"If you want to win the Tour de France you've got to be capable of winning the [Crtierium du] Dauphine and that's three weeks before," he said.
A rower from the age of 13 to 22, the Hutchins student won an under-23 world title and competed at the 2004 Olympics before a decade as a pro cyclist during which he rode three Grand Tours.
Four years ago Wurf switched to ironman triathlons, and after leading the last two world title races told The Examiner: "I have to aim to win - it's the obvious target."
"I've led it twice - 99 per cent of triathletes would dream of leading that race. If I can keep going the way I am I've got to be a chance of winning and that's what I'm aiming for."
During a break from training in Kona this week, he said: "I have done everything I feel I could do to be ready for the race, and am just excited for the flag to drop now.
"It's the world championship so winning is obviously the goal and I'll be throwing everything into trying to do just that."
Asked about the eventful career path that has taken him from Sandy Bay to the formerly-named Sandwich Islands, Wurf said he couldn't imagine life without competitive sport.
I always dreamed of doing something significant in sport and this is my best chance to do it
- Cameron Wurf
"I've loved exercising for as long as I can remember. It doesn't matter what the activity is. I've dreamed of competing and winning on the biggest stage of basically every single sport so I guess it makes sense that I've found one that combines a few of them together."
Wurf first competed at Kona as an age-grouper and was inspired to tackle the elite race.
For the last two years he not only led the gruelling event but set a course record for the bike leg only to be run down in the marathon. Last year he eventually finished ninth in 8:10:32 - the best result by a Tasmanian and third fastest by an Australian.
A hectic 2019 saw Wurf marry his long-time girlfriend Fallon, complete with ceremonies in Tasmania and her native US, before setting up home in Andorra.
A fractured nose and rib sustained in a cycling accident temporarily derailed his relentless training regime but the former pro cyclist had already decided to spend most of the year focusing on improving his running.
The results were clear in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna where he ran a 2:45.02 marathon to finish 16:17 ahead of the second place competitor.
But Wurf is not getting carried away.
"It's one thing to do it in a race like Italy but another to do it in the biggest race of the year when all the best athletes are here," he said.
"There's been a lot of expectation on me in the last couple of years and I've been able to put myself in with a chance of winning. I just need to finish it off this time."
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