CLUB SPOTLIGHT: Team T‑Rex
For 18 years, Team T‑Rex Triathlon Club has been a constant of the Gold Coast triathlon scene. A club built on fun, friendship, ferocity (in the best possible way), and a whole lot of community spirit. And with 57 club members set to race across the T100, Olympic Distance and 10km run events, they’re gearing up to make a mighty roar at the inaugural AusTriathlon Club Grand Final at the T100 Gold Coast.
Why T-Rex?
Team T‑Rex’s story starts with a misread race result. When founder and coach Teresa Theaker crossed the line at the Queensland Tri Series many years ago, the announcer accidentally called her “T‑Rex” instead of “T. Rice.” What began as a funny moment turned into a nickname, then a coaching business name, and now, an 18‑year‑strong triathlon community with 165 members.
“I walked into work on Monday and everyone was calling me T‑Rex,” Teresa laughed. Before long she had a sticker on her bike, a nickname across the Coast, and the beginnings of a club identity that has become iconic.
A Club for Absolutely Everyone
Whether you’re a first‑timer getting off the couch, a parent rediscovering sport, or an emerging high‑performance athlete, T‑Rex has a pathway for you.
“We’ve got everyone at the club – beginners, former swimmers, runners, cyclists, families, kids, people returning to sport, people from overseas… it’s truly a club for anyone,” Teresa explained. The club’s much‑loved offshoot programs include:
- Raptors – their junior program
- Dirty Rex – mountain bike athletes
- She Rex – a women’s introduction‑to‑triathlon program.
It’s this inclusive environment that fuels what Teresa calls the club’s ‘secret sauce’ – connection. Coffee after sessions, BBQs in Paradise Point, long rides with new friends, races against clubmates for bragging rights… community is what keeps people coming back.
As a coach of 20 years, Teresa has worked across almost every level of triathlon: from juniors, age group worlds, and youth programs, to training V8 Supercar drivers and even coaching at the Commonwealth Games. She now leads a team of six coaches and co‑directs the club with David Daffy.
Her passion for building pathways is evident in the 300+ age‑group athletes she has supported to world championship teams and the many juniors and coaches she has mentored.
When the T100 Gold Coast event was announced, T‑Rex member excitement went through the roof.
“The minute entries opened, we were online with our credit cards. We weren’t missing this,” Teresa said. “It’s huge for the Gold Coast and huge for triathlon.”
The club will not only race in force – they’ll also run an aid station for the women’s professional T100 race, giving them front‑row seats to history being made at Surfers Paradise.
Athletes to Watch
T‑Rex has talent across all ages and levels, including:
- Ryan & Riley Billingham – the twin powerhouses expected to feature strongly
- Jayden Berry, supported by wife Belle, both racing in a family affair
- Matt Oswald, a Gold Coast Hospital doctor balancing elite medical work with racing
- A strong contingent of healthcare workers taking on the challenge
- Ken Crawford, the club’s oldest athlete at 74, ready to race with gusto
- Multiple women from the She Rex beginner program tackling T100 or Olympic Distance for the first time!
Gold Coast Pride & Race‑Day Tips
For those travelling in for the Club Grand Final, Teresa’s advice is simple:
- Pace yourself on the flat, fast course
- Nail your hydration and nutrition
- Respect the heat and humidity
- And most importantly: look around and enjoy the views and the atmosphere
“When it gets tough, remember how lucky you are to be part of the first T100 on the Gold Coast.”
A ‘Roarsome’ Weekend Ahead
We asked Teresa to predict the vibe for Club Grand Final day and she didn’t hesitate: “Roarsome!”
With inflatable T‑Rex suits, roaring support crews, and 50+ athletes toeing the line across three race formats, Team T‑Rex is set to make an unforgettable mark on the inaugural Club Grand Final.
And if you’re wandering through the Tri Club Village on race weekend, look out for the biggest, friendliest T‑Rex mascot on the Coast, you won’t miss them.
If they had to describe themselves in three words?
Fun. Friendly. Ferocious.
