Page 10 - NLN September 19

ZACK is Back

WARNING: Some readers may find the content distressing
How did you get into competing in Triathlons?
You may remember Zack. He featured in our fourth edition I got into triathlons as a kid. My Dad introduced me, he got
in October 2017. When I last spoke to him, he was rising involved due to wanting to get fit. He was the president of Cairns
through the racing ranks of Go karting. He was competing Crocs Tri Club. He was doing 70.3 races and Ironman events, as
in the top level in Australia when things took a turn for the well as coaching juniors in the club.
worse for him. His personal issues caused everything to go
up in flames. Now, he is shaking off the ashes and walking What made you decide to aspire to compete professionally?
tall and proud. I took it up at the end of last year after coming out of the mental
ward. I had health complications including glandular fever, so I
Can you tell me about your battle with your mental health had 5 months off, time to think about what I wanted to do with
issues? my life. I thought back to the happy memories of my childhood
Last year in April I tried to take my own life. I was transported that I had, which included swimming, track and field, and
to the Caboolture hospital. I saw psychologists and they triathlons. I figured out that I had stood on the podium a total
administered a lot of medications. That following morning I was of 91 times after 100 races. I began training in September 2018.
transported to Prince Charles mental health ward. I stayed for I bought myself a bike, organised a membership. I was 25kg
two weeks. I saw Psychiatrists and Psychologists daily. I felt like overweight, had no base of fitness. I decided in December that
a danger to myself. I was discharged on the 24th of April 2018. I would change my distance that I was doing as a kid, the sprint
From then until September I had to deal with other health issues distance.
that caused me to gain weight, amongst other things. I had a
traumatic childhood and teen years. I was physically abused by How did it come to be that you decided to try out for the
my Dad from a young age and felt like I couldn’t tell him when World Championships?
I felt something was wrong. I was bullied, harassed, publicly I had a look at the 2019 calendar and I saw multiple races that
defamed during school. I was threatened with a knife, thrown allowed me to potentially qualify for the world championship. I
in bins. When we moved to Brisbane in 2013, my Mum moved in put a plan together of all the races I wanted to do and figured a
with a man that was already living here. That was fine until about training program to allow me to perform at my physical best for
six months in,then he turned into a psycho. He got drunk one each race. The qualifier races I participated in were: Gold Coast
night and physically assaulted me in a sexual manner. He and in January, and placed 3rd. First race back in 11 years! I went to
Mum split and he began stalking and harassing her. I started a Melbourne in February and I placed 27th, I wasn’t happy with
new school (Grade 10) but was also became victim of my Mum’s that result, I ended up in the medical tent at the end of the race
ex stalking and further bullying at school. I then turned to drugs due to heat stroke and dehydration. Forster – NSW in March
and alcohol. I was self-harming. I tried to overdose on Panadol which I won!!! By 5 minutes!! I had the fastest swim in my age
and Nurofen. Later, I was diagnosed with PTSD, due to 2 very group, the second fastest bike split and the 5th fastest run in my
traumatic experiences that involved witnessing deaths. The final age group. Fastest splits in transition one and two. In April I went
straw was a work place that was treating me badly in relation to to the Australian title. I came out in the top 6 for my age group
my mental health, they really put me through the ringer. I ended for the swim. My bike ride was average, I got a flat and rode half
up quitting. the leg with it that way. I suffered ITB syndrome on the run! So I