After an enormous performance in her last Ironman event, Ambulance Victoria’s Acting Yea Team Manager, Jacqui Graham is set to compete in the 2024 Ironman World Championship later this year.
Jacqui completed the Ironman Western Australia in December, coming third in her age group and securing a place in the World Championship.
The Ironman consisted of a gruelling 3.8-kilometre ocean swim, 180-kilometre bike ride, and 42.2-kilometre marathon run.
“It was my first Ironman, so to get through it was a special feeling but to manage it in the time I did, I was absolutely stoked,” Jacqui said.
“I completed the Ironman with a final time of 10 hours and 30 minutes.”
It was no easy feat juggling shift work while undertaking extensive training for her first Ironman, but Jacqui said she made it work.
“I would swim two to three times a week, run three to four times a week and cycle around three to four times a week, with upwards of 15 hours total training, the bulk of my training being completed on my days off from work.”
Jacqui has worked with Ambulance Victoria for more than 12 years and wanted to share a message with paramedics and other first responders that it’s important to keep making time for the hobbies they’re passionate about, such as sports.
“I know when some paramedics begin their careers, they put an end to programmed sport due to the constraints of shift work, but it is possible to keep doing,” Jacqui said.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a recreational sport or a high-level sport, it’s important to keep doing activities outside of work.”
“The flow-on effect of having something outside of work that we are passionate about, or can put our energy into, is so important for our mental and physical health.”
Jacqui will compete in the Ironman World Championship to be held in France later this year.
– With Ana Vujani, Ambulance Victoria.
