Two of Australia’s most celebrated triathletes, 2012 IRONMAN World Champion Pete Jacobs and 2016 Paralympic Games gold medallist Katie Kelly OAM, have been honoured with induction into the AusTriathlon Hall of Fame.
The pair were officially inducted during the 2024 AusTriathlon Awards on Sunday evening at the QT Gold Coast, joining an esteemed group the sports icons as the 19th and 20th members of the Hall of Fame.
The inductions were conducted by Paul Stevens, newly appointed AusTriathlon President, alongside his predecessor Michelle Cooper.
Both Jacobs and Kelly shared emotional reflections, sharing their journeys in the sport and paying tribute to the individuals who played pivotal roles in their success.
“It’s a real honour to be inducted into the Hall of Fame,” Jacobs said.
“It’s a really nice reminder of the big effort and commitment I made—ten years from when I first had the dream to win Hawaii.
“Thinking about what earned me the spot in the Hall of Fame, it definitely is that IRONMAN World Championship crown. At first, I think about the other four guys that have won it and are in the Hall of Fame—they’ve done so much more than me. Then I remind myself it wasn’t an easy thing to do, because nobody has done it since from Australia.
“To be part of that exclusive club is something that I remind myself I’m honoured to be part of.”
Kelly expressed similar sentiments, reflecting on her trailblazing career in para triathlon.
“I’m incredibly honoured,” Kelly said.
“To look at the Hall of Fame and stand alongside the legends of the sport is surreal. Thinking about my career and the opportunity I’ve had to represent Australia in para triathlon, and to win that first gold medal in the sport of para triathlon, I’m incredibly indebted to the people who made it happen.
“For someone who has vision loss and hearing loss, I never imagined I would be representing Australia at the highest level. And here I am tonight. To be in the Hall of Fame is an incredible honour.”
Pete Jacobs – A Journey of Grit and Greatness
Growing up on the beaches of Sydney’s North, Pete Jacobs began his triathlon career almost by accident – joining friends from surf lifesaving training in their triathlon pursuits.
He began competing in local races as a teenager and by age 20, he had qualified as an age-grouper for IRONMAN Australia, quickly discovering a passion for the sport’s long-distance format.
After completing a landscaping apprenticeship, Jacobs turned professional in 2004.
The early years of his career were defined by both promise and challenges. He competed in his first IRONMAN World Championship in Kona that same year but was forced to withdraw due to fatigue – a challenge that would persist throughout his career.
Undeterred, Jacobs returned to Kona multiple times, steadily improving his performances, including a breakthrough eighth-place finish in 2009 – the first of four consecutive top-10 finishes at the prestigious event.
In 2011, he earned his first IRONMAN victory at IRONMAN Australia and finished runner-up at the IRONMAN World Championships behind 2021 Hall of Fame inductee Craig Alexander.
The following year, Jacobs reached the pinnacle of his career, winning the 2012 IRONMAN World Championship in dominant fashion.
His victory extended Australia’s dominance in Kona to six consecutive years (2007–2012) and fulfilled a decade-long dream.
Alongside Alexander, Chris McCormack, and Greg Welch, Jacobs remains one of only four Australian men to have claimed the coveted Kona title.
Despite battling long-term fatigue issues throughout his career, he remains one of Australia’s greatest IRONMAN athletes.
Today, he shares his expertise as a health and performance coach, helping others achieve their peak performance.
Katie Kelly OAM – Breaking Barriers and Inspiring Generations
Diagnosed in her mid-20s with Usher syndrome, a condition affecting vision and hearing, Katie Kelly found a new calling in para triathlon, combining her passion for endurance sports with her remarkable resilience.
Her rise in the sport was meteoric.
Just months after being classified as a vision-impaired para triathlete in early 2015, Kelly partnered with 2009 Hall of Fame Inductee Michellie Jones – an Olympic silver medallist and two-time ITU world champion.
The partnership quickly became legendary. Their undefeated streak leading into the 2016 Paralympics included gold at the 2015 World Championships in Chicago, where Kelly staged a dramatic comeback to secure victory.
At the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Kelly and Jones made history, claiming gold in the PT5 women’s event and delivering Australia its first-ever Paralympic medal in triathlon.
Kelly continued her dominance in the years following Rio, securing a second world title in 2017 at the ITU Para Championships in Rotterdam.
In 2018, despite battling a stress fracture, Kelly earned a bronze medal at the World Championships on the Gold Coast with guide Holly Grice.
Her remarkable career culminated at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, where she competed with guide Briarna Silk, finishing sixth.
Since retiring, Kelly established the Sport Access Foundation, providing over $86,000 in grants for young Australians living with a disability to improve their access to sport.
Her advocacy for diversity and inclusion is further demonstrated through her roles as a Non-Executive Director for Achieve Australia, an Industry Fellow with Griffith University’s Disability Inclusive Council, and a co-Patron of the Australian Deaf Games.
