Noongar and Martu athlete Nat Heath has officially become a two time Ironman World Championship finisher in Kona, Hawaiʻi.
After making history as the first Indigenous man to compete at the World Championships in Kona, Hawaiʻi in 2015, he qualified again to compete nine years later.
"Stoked to be here. Nine years since I've last been here," he said.
Mr Heath crossed the finish line in nine hours, thirty one minutes and sixteen seconds.
"Worth the nine and a half hours of pain... Very emotional. Just super proud," he said after the race.
He dedicated the race to his community, mentioning his Uncle who passed away recently.
"I love ya's! Up the mob. Can't wait to see another First Nations person here.
"I lost one of my Uncles the other week and it was his funeral on Friday. Uncle Pete, that was for you mate, love ya," he said.
Mr Heath founded TriMob in 2020, an organisation that empowers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to participate in triathlons to support their physical, mental and spiritual health.
He first started competing in triathlons in 2011 after suffering from Guillian Barre Syndrome, which left him with paralysis and in a wheelchair unable to walk.
Mr Heath worked hard both physically and mentally to recover and completed a triathlon eight months later.
He has completed seven triathlons since and is now hoping to empower other mob to improve their health and well-being.
"When I'm doing this... I'm representing First Nations communities. Super focused and driven to do the mob proud and represent us on a world stage.
"Whilst I might be the first, I hope I'm not the last. Hopefully this inspires a young kid out there to go 'that's a sport that we can participate in'", he said.
