Heart of a Champion
Page 19
‘It would be very easy for someone who faced the health problems Welchy did to become very bitter and totally walk away from the sport of triathlon. Welchy has done just the opposite—he is now more involved than he was when he was an athlete. Greg adds a new, fresh perspective to all the things he does with Ironman. He has raced at the top level so knows what that takes, but at the same time, he sees the big picture and is doing everything he can to help the sport grow.
‘Greg has taught us all a great lesson—life is very precious, and we need to appreciate everything we have and live life to its fullest.’
NICK
Nick Munting met Greg early in his career as a sports journalist and they’ve been friends ever since.
‘The difference between Greg and most sportsmen is that normally sport doesn’t follow the nice-guys-should-win philosophy. Greg takes that apart and spits it out. The nice guy does win.
‘He really puts family first. Family and friends. I get the feeling with Greg that friends are everything, they’re as big as family. The guy may be 5 foot tall but he’s got a 7 foot 6 heart!’
ROBIN
Greg first met the actor and comic genius Robin Williams after the 1994 Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon. Sian had won the women’s race and Greg finished second in the men’s. Scott Tinley introduced them to Robin—an avid sports fan—after the race. Robin had long been one of Greg’s idols.
‘We met him and we just got on like a house on fire. Robin took us back to his house and we had lunch. He’s such a lovely bloke. At one stage he got up and said, “I’ll be back in a minute.” He went down to the local 7-11 store and came back with a dozen cans of Fosters. He said, “Here’s something for you, mate.” And we just sat around drinking Fosters oil cans all afternoon.’
As they were leaving, Robin told them to be sure to visit him after the next year’s race. They did, and it became one of Greg and Sian’s most anticipated annual events.
‘We became really good friends. He invited us to stay with him. We went bike riding and rode to Hill Valley across the Golden Gate Bridge. One year, we were having a coffee in a little café nearby. People didn’t recognise Robin because he still had his helmet and sunglasses on— until he started speaking. ‘Then everybody just started popping their ears up and all of a sudden, this coffee shop, which originally had about eight people in it, had 50, 60, 70, 80 people crammed in. It got too much for Robin and he bolted. Back on the road, the traffic was heavy. We stopped at a red light and Robin was doing his “Mork from Ork” mad stuff and cracking up two girls in a car. And then this guy, who’d been standing at a bus stop, reading the timetable, suddenly realised who he was. He said, “Oh my God, it’s Robin Williams. Oh thank you very much, Robin Williams, thank you, thank you, thank you.” It was fantastic. I was laughing so hard, and he was just going off.’
As he got to know Robin better, Greg was delighted to find he was as natural as he appeared. ‘Every time we’ve had a dinner at his place after Alcatraz, he’s always had his friends around and then made an afternoon of it. One year he flew back just to see me for one night even though he was filming. I’d stayed with his wife Marsha for the four or five days I was there. He came home on the Saturday night about 11 o’clock. Marsha and I had gone out for dinner, then came back and waited for him. We went through all of their Tour de France photos. He was dead tired and went to bed. But he hung out with me the next day before he had to fly back out.’
Greg is grateful for many lessons he learned from Robin, especially his ability to deal with fame. ‘He’s a five-star celebrity, an A-grade celebrity, but he just wants to be a normal person. He goes to the local restaurants, he walks everywhere, he doesn’t have a chip on his shoulder. He’s very generous, very generous with charities and he and Marsha were very generous with me—especially when I had my health problems. As a matter of fact, they offered to help me with all my medical expenses and things, and I gratefully rejected the offer. They’re very caring people. They were genuinely concerned for my health when I got sick. Marsha would call all the time and I really appreciated it.
‘I think Robin and I connect because we’re both fun-loving guys and we love to joke around. I love to tell jokes, love to be funny, love to make people smile. He’s a real genius. He brings a smile to every person’s face around him. Making people feel good makes him feel good.’
The other connection between Greg and Robin is their love of sports. Robin is a fine tennis player and a devoted bike rider. ‘He loves to ride his bike. He’s got about 60 bikes. Jay Leno has 200 cars. It’s a lot easier to put 60 bikes in your garage than 200 cars. I’m sure he would have loved to be an athlete but then the world would have lost a comic genius.’
MIKE
As MC at the Hawaiian Ironman finish line, Mike Reilly welcomes the finishers home with his famous cry, ‘You are an Ironman!’ He and Greg have been friends since they met at Greg’s first Ironman in 1987.
‘Greg has gone through more pain and uncertainty with his health than any of us can imagine. Every time he wanted to give up, I believe that carefree, strong attitude carried him through. He looks at life as his game and he sets the rules of success. I have the pleasure to be with him at many Ironmans worldwide, working the event. He has the ability to carry us all on his shoulders just by how he works and plays. His intensity and desire to do the best job possible for ironmanlive.com is equal to his racing days. There is no difference in how he approaches his work with that ever-smiling, fun attitude. How can we around him not feed off a passion like his! He may not know it, but he is the leader of the Ironman family that travels and works the events. I can’t wait to get on the road and be with such an inspiration!’
‘There is nothing more important in life than your family. If someone asked me, “How would you describe Greg in one word?”, I’d say, “That’s easy—family.” It is everything to him; it is his passion every waking moment, whether he is with them or 7000 miles away.
‘Your friends in life also have to be your inspiration and leaders. To be able to call Greg Welch a friend is truly my honour. If everyone had a Greg Welch in their lives, they would be much better off. We are lucky to have him, and the sport of triathlon worldwide would not be where it is today without him.’
KEVIN
Kevin McKinnon is a former triathlete and journalist. He and Greg have been friends since they competed against each other in the early 1990s.
‘Every now and then you meet someone in your life who makes you feel better, and Greg’s one of those people.
‘No matter what’s going on, what happens, what’s buzzing all around, when you walk away from hanging out with Greg, being with him or talking with him, you always feel better.’
BOB
A former triathlete, Bob Babbitt is Ironman’s premier historian. He and Greg have been friends since they first met in Hawaii in the late 1980s.
‘During his amazing career Greg proved that, despite being slight of build, he was a giant when it came to the sport of triathlon. He was one of the few athletes in the history of the sport who was a threat to win every single time he stepped to the line, no matter the distance. From 20-minute super sprints to 8-hour Ironman distance events, no one ever did it better than Greg Welch.
‘He was also an entertainer and a showman. He was capable of focusing and racing to win while still realising he was there to entertain. He managed to connect with fellow competitors and fans.
‘I’ve never seen a harder racer than Greg. I often felt he may have had an inkling that time was not on his side. He crammed 20 seasons into 10 years. He jammed everything into his life. He competed constantly. He loved competing, he loved travelling, meeting new people, partying, being Greg Welch.
‘He’s been an inspiration in the way he’s adapted to his health problems. It’s a pleasure to call him my friend.’
MARK
And Mark Allen, arguably the greatest all-round triathlete of them all— along with Greg—has this to say: ‘G
reg is a human being extraordinaire. There’s no one whom I met in the sport of triathlons who could bridge so many gaps, from all race distances to athletes of all ages, genders and abilities. He’s also bridged life by looking at death, and he reminded every single one of us that we are mortal, that we gotta make every single moment count—just be grateful for every second you have.’
Greg Welch Career Highlights
* * *
World Champion, 1994 Ironman Triathlon World Championships
* * *
World Champion, 1990 World Triathlon Championships
* * *
World Champion, 1993 World Duathlon Championships
* * *
World Champion, 1996 World Long Distance Triathlon Championships
* * *
Named 1994 Triathlete-of-the-Year and 1994 Sports Star of the Year by Triathlete and Competitor magazines
* * *
Named 1994 Sports Star of the Year, Caltex Gold Oscar for New South Wales, Australia
* * *
Two-Time Champion, 1992 and 1994 Ironman Japan Triathlon
* * *
Multiple-Time Winner, Triathlon World Cup (1996–99)
* * *
Winner, 1999 Mrs. T’s Chicago Triathlon
* * *
Winner, 1997 World Nature Games Triathlon
* * *
Winner, 1997 and 1992 Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon
* * *
US Pro Champion, 1992, 1993 and 1999
* * *
National Champion, 1992 Australian Sprint Triathlon Championships
* * *
Second Place, 1991 Ironman Triathlon World Championships
* * *
Bronze Medal, 1990 Commonwealth Games Triathlon
* * *
Third Place, 1989 and 1996 Ironman Triathlon World Championships
* * *
Runner-Up, 1994, 1995 and 1996 Triathlon Grand Prix Series
* * *
Ironman World Championships
PLACE - 11
YEAR - 1999
SWIM - 0:54:28
BIKE - 4:53:19
RUN - 2:46:51
TOTAL - 8:40:50
PLACE - 3
YEAR - 1996
SWIM - 0:51:23
BIKE - 4:35:43
RUN - 2:51:51
TOTAL - 8:18:57
PLACE - 4
YEAR - 1995
SWIM - 0:51:47
BIKE - 4:46:31
RUN - 2:50:56
TOTAL - 8:29:14
PLACE - 1
YEAR - 1994
SWIM - 0:50:22
BIKE - 4:41:07
RUN - 2:48:58
TOTAL - 8:20:27
PLACE - 6
YEAR - 1992
SWIM - 0:49:32
BIKE - 4:37:20
RUN - 3:00:01
TOTAL - 8:26:53
PLACE - 2
YEAR - 1991
SWIM - 0:51:02
BIKE - 4:45:21
RUN - 2:48:10
TOTAL - 8:24:34
PLACE - 5
YEAR - 1990
SWIM - 0:51:51
BIKE - 4:52:20
RUN - 3:01:56
TOTAL - 8:46:07
PLACE - 3
YEAR - 1989
SWIM - 0:51:39
BIKE - 4:43:43
RUN - 2:56:53
TOTAL - 8:32:15
Index
Illustrations are indicated in italics.
A
Allen, Mark 16, 17, 88, 104–10, 133, 137–41, 144, 145, 155, 220, 269, 269
Anderson, Scott 111
Anderson, Spot 100–1, 106, 111
apprenticeship as plasterer 61–2
Around Oahu Bike Ride 35
asthma 188–94, 198, 205
Australian Cross-Country Championships (Darwin) 91
Australian Road Championships (Perth) 92
Avignon 103–4
B
Babbitt, Bob 36, 162, 199, 205, 268
Baker, Erin 17, 88
Baker, John 133
Bannister, Paul 74
Barel, Rob 103
Bevan, Brad 100–3, 106, 111, 113, 161
accompanies Greg to San Diego 116–17, 119, 123
in USA 133, 135
birth of daughters 222–3, 230
Blizzard, Arthur 62, 63–4, 87, 100, 106–7, 112, 116
Blizzard, Jan 62
Bonham, Louise 100–1, 104
Brunker, Peter 73, 74, 76, 77, 79, 83, 84
Buchan, Warren 74
Bustos, Cristian 154
C
Camp, Brad 91
Caringbah (Greg’s house) 217, 229
Carlson, Tim 207
Carr, Dr Ken 201–2, 207
Cashman, Mark 90
Castella, Robert de 61, 91
Chicago Triathlon (1989) 104, 106
childhood (Greg’s) 42, 43–55, 46, 47, 51, 58–9
children
Annie 222, 223, 237
Emma 230, 237
decision to have 220–3
coaching (by Greg) 211, 251
Collins, John 35–6, 119
commentating 211, 214, 247
at Hawaiian Ironman 17, 219–20
for ironmanlive.com 204
at Sydney Olympics 216–18
Commonwealth Games 1990 (Auckland) 111–12
Cook, Glenn 104
Cooney, Tom 104–5
counselling (for Greg) 237, 240–5
Croft, Nick 22, 100–2, 103, 104
Crone, Peter 241–6, 242, 247
Cronulla Surf Club 68, 91–2
D
defibrillator 215, 224–5, 228
shocks by 229, 231–6
dehydration, effects of 151–2
Denny, Leonie 64–5, 73, 75, 107, 126
Denny, Michelle 64–5
Devlin, Jeff 144, 145
Dittrich, Wolfgang 144, 154, 167
Doohan, Nick 218
Dunbar, John 36
Dunn, Michael 135
E
earnings 106, 135–6
Elford, Janelle 111–12
erythropoietin (EPO) 174–5, 206
ESPN TV 211
Esselstyn, Rip 22
F
fatherhood 222–3, 228–31, 236
Fertic, Ben 204
fittest man on earth (60 Minutes) 10, 190, 191
Forbes, Glenn 86
Forster Ironman (1986) 77, 79, 83, 85–6
Foster, Steve 90, 111, 113, 117, 133
France, first trip to 100–4
Fraser, Dawn 200
Frey, Roch 205, 234, 262–3
Frost, Geoff 100–2
Fuhr, Heather 205, 234, 263–4
G
Gallagher, Colleen 118, 120
Gang, Dr Eli 203, 204
German Ironman (1995) 164
Glah, Kenny 21–8, 88, 104, 110, 133, 144, 149
Global Sports Marketing Manager, Multisports 249
Grand Prix (1994) 19
Great Lakes International Ironman (1985) 64
Greenacre (Greg’s life in) 44–55
Greenacre Grasshoppers 49, 53
Greenacre Primary School 49
H
haemochromatosis 173–6, 205
haemorrhoids 16, 152, 206
Haller, Gordon 36
Harding, Dick 63–4
Hawaiian Ironman 10, 30–1, 34–8, 74
Greg’s qualification for 85, 86–7
origin of 35–6
(1978) 36
(1979) 36
(1980) 36–7
(1981) 37
(1982) 37–8
(1984) 74
(1987) 9–10, 16, 87–9
(1988) 16, 92–3, 98
(1989) 16, 82, 108–10
(1990) 124
(1991) 16, 143–6, 145
(1992) 16, 152–4, 269
(1993) 15–16, 17, 136
(1994) 10, 14, 15, 19–31, 20, 24, 27, 162–4
(1996) 167
(1999) 10, 184, 187–95
(2000) 219–20
(2003) 247
(2004) 11
health problems see asthma; haemochromatosis; haemorrhoids; viral infection; v-tach
heart rate, Greg’s control of 176, 191
Hellreigel, Thomas 167
Hill, Chris 180
Holt, John 70
Honolulu Marathon 35
Hopkins family 63, 64, 84, 87
Hopkins, Bruce 60, 64, 71–2
Hopkins, Cameron 60
Hopkins, Scott 60
house dad (Greg) 228
Houseman, Glen 112
Huddle, Paul 94, 134, 139–41, 205, 235
I
immune system, depression of in triathletes 138–9, 185–6
injuries
collarbone 60
knee 17–19, 18, 158, 162
ribs 117–18
toe 179
wrists 162
International Grand Prix Series 1996 165
International Triathlon Short-Course
Championships 1989 100–4, 105
International Triathlon Union (ITU) see World Cup series
Ironman competitions see Hawaiian
Ironman
Ironman Japan
(1992) 16, 147, 148
(1994) 162
Ironman Triathlon World Championships 34
see also Hawaiian Ironman
Ironman World Title (1994) 165
ironmanlive.com 204, 211, 247, 253
Irving, Harold 36
J
Jessup, Jack (Pop) 43, 45–8, 46, 50, 58
Jones, Michellie 218, 251
K
Kalil, Adrian 194
Kemper, Hunter 180
King, Jo 217
Kiuru, Pauli 110, 144
Kropko, Peter 23, 25, 26–8
L