Kaitlin Rees secured a coveted wildcard spot in this year’s professional ironwoman series after a grueling qualification race held on Sunday. The 18-year-old athlete from the Swansea Belmont surf lifesaving club in Newcastle pushed herself to the limit during the enduro event, aiming to replicate the success of her father, Michael Rees, a former surf lifesaving competitor and her current coach.

Rees described the race as physically demanding, recalling moments when she came close to vomiting during the ski leg due to the intense effort. “I just left nothing out here today. I gave it everything. It hurt so bad,” she said after finishing third in the trials. Her determination paid off, earning her a direct entry into the professional series, providing a reprieve from subsequent qualifying rounds.

The young athlete’s passion for ironwoman competition traces back to her early childhood. At five years old, inspired by her surf-loving family environment and her father’s legacy, she committed to pursuing a professional career in the sport. “I just always wanted to be an ironwoman,” Rees said, reflecting on her journey. She noted that she will be balancing her sport with academics, as the first round of the series— the Coolangatta Gold 25.6 event, a scaled-down version of the traditional race— coincides with the start of her Higher School Certificate exams on October 17.

Rees’s achievements extend beyond her recent qualification. She is the reigning under-19 Australian board champion and secured third place in her age group at the national ironwoman titles earlier this year. Throughout her preparation and competition, she has received strong support from her father and other coaches within her club. Michael Rees remained emotional upon witnessing his daughter’s success, opting to keep sunglasses on to conceal his tears.

The upcoming ironwoman series will present a significant challenge for Rees as she enters the professional ranks while managing the demands of her final school year. Nonetheless, her commitment and early success suggest she is poised to make a strong impact in the sport.