Two prominent Launceston athletes have become the 14th and 15th life members of Triathlon Tasmania.
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University of Tasmania lecturer Casey Mainsbridge and orthopaedic surgeon Roger Butorac received the honour at Triathlon Tasmania's awards night on Saturday having both given 15-plus years of service.
Both are former TT presidents who have represented Australia in their age groups, with Mainsbridge among the youngest to have been awarded life membership.
"It was a massive surprise," the 43-year-old said.
"I really didn't have any idea at all - I didn't nominate any awards so I thought it might have been for worst commentator or something like that and then my name came up for life membership so that was a massive surprise.
"I was amazingly humbled and surprised and I'm still a bit shocked by it actually."
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Mainsbridge began his sporting career as a basketballer and dabbled in volleyball and football before completing his first triathlon as a 27-year-old.
He has since been a constant member of the state's triathlon scene and represented Australia as an age group triathlete in Queensland (2009) and Auckland (2012).
"I was always interested in it as a sport - I always enjoyed swimming, riding and running growing up and I always wanted to do a triathlon but it's not something I got into until I finished playing team sports," Mainsbridge said.
"I tried one out and it was one of the hardest things I'd ever done but for some reason you get a bit of a bug.
"That was all I needed and I've sort of participated right through."
His official roles have included Launceston Triathlon Club coach, Fairbrother junior squad coach, TT vice-president and "unsolicited" raceday commentator.
His most recent work has been in coach development.
"I've been able to be a part of many people's introductions and journeys into the sport," he said.
"I've seen some really talented people - Jake Birtwhistle came through that pathway, Dylan Evans, Jonathan Butler and Natalea Smith - they're all from Launceston and they were really talented juniors who have been able to go on to great things.
"So as much as I like participating myself and the challenge and health benefits of that, I really enjoy coaching and helping all athletes from beginners right through to elite."
Butorac's contributions have also included work as a technical official and technical official trainer.
"[Roger] has contributed selflessly behind the scenes over many years," a TT statement said.
"No one could say a bad word about him as a competitor, he is humble, honest, trains hard and doesn't take himself too seriously."
LIFE MEMBERS
- Marcus Haward, Royce Fairbrother, Craig Redman, Steven Oliver, Kerry Stubbs, Peter Gadsby, Adrian Grainger, David Hepher, Suzanne Bower, Wayne Pretty, Peter Adams, Steve Quinn, David Herbig, Roger Butorac, Casey Mainsbridge