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Trevor Hendy is unchallenged as "the greatest Ironman in the world". The pride of Australian Surf Lifesaving, Trevor's list of achievements would make most sportsmen and women turn green with envy.
Competing for the Surfers Paradise Club on the Gold Coast, Trevor has won six Australian Open Ironman titles surpassing Grant Kenny's record. His string of Queensland titles stretch back to the mid 1980's and in 1994 he claimed his fourth consecutive World Ironman title in the United Kingdom. This feat was regarded miraculous considering the world title is only held every 2nd year and involves many rounds of qualification, yet only one 12 minute finale in any sort of ocean conditions actually decides the World champion for that year. Given the list of possible outcomes, it was this winning streak that first stamped Trevor's ability to consistently feel his way through any situation as something special indeed. This was driven home also in 2004 when Trevor swept away all before him, creating a unique record of five 1st placings and two 2nd placings out of 7 professional starts in that season's Uncle Toby's Super Series, leaving him unquestionably at the pinnacle of his sport
After this, Trevor switched to Kayaking in a bid to refresh his desire to compete at the top level. Having achieved a rare feat of completing his sporting goals at a young age, Trevor, armed with a new set of goals and a new sport to conquer set about tackling a steep learning curve with a new freshness and a desire to paddle at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. He went on to make it to the 1998 World Kayak/Canoe Championships and European World Cup series, finishing with several top 5 places and along the way, having a real taste of the teamwork required to challenge the world kayaking elite in the hotly contested K4 1000m event. He also secured two more Australian championships along the way. After making it into a very small and hard to crack Australian Kayaking side, he had fulfilled his dream of once again representing his Country, albeit this time in an entirely different sport.
After returning from the 1998 World Kayaking Championships, having done the hard yards and seemingly only a stones throw from the 2000 Olympics, Trevor stunned a lot of people by announcing his retirement from Professional sport, ending his dormant Ironman career and his 2000 Olympic campaign in the process. It was then that he came to understand that a new Trevor Hendy had emerged. "I simply realised that I loved helping people win their gold medal more than I loved chasing my own", " I guess it is a personal thing and while I still love the concept of winning and excelling, I am getting more satisfaction out of having more authentic and caring relationships with people and at the same time watching other people fly." While coaching the next couple of World Ironman Champions Trevor certainly flew a few more times, competitively, himself, winning World and Australian titles in the new millennium, admittedly without training for them, stating "it's amazing what you can do, when you truly feel good about yourself"
Trevor Hendy is a legend in his sport. No other competitor has reached his heights. Together with his down to earth attitude he became a role model for all Australians. This was recognised when he was awarded as a member of the Order of Australia. He has also been inducted into the Surf Life Saving, Gold Coast and Australian Sporting Hall of Fame.
Trevor ultimately achieved, in a funny way, two goals in one, when he was selected as the expert kayaking commentator for the channel 7 coverage of the 2000 Olympics, in a unique way supporting his old team mates in their own medal success.
Trevor has spent his time since competition, pursuing his love of "helping bring people's Spirit Alive". Trevor now devotes a lot of time to his partner Jo and 4 children while he continues to tour the country on the speaking circuit.
He has joined with old mates, Karla Gilbert, Phil Clayton and David Simons to create Element X, a company that aims to bring the magic out for individuals, corporate groups and teams, beginner to elite, in and through sport and activity.
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