Dean on top of the world

A proud Dean following his triathlon success

HUMAN dynamo Dean Fullford has placed fourth in the below knee amputee division of the World Triathlon championships in Perth this month.

The win not only puts Dean, of Palmwoods, fourth in the world behind the United States and Brazil, but also makes him the top Australian competitor in the division.

For a thrilled Dean, the result is his best ever, particularly as he had doubted he would even make the grade after being sick with asthma in the seven weeks leading up to the event.

"I wasn’t even sure I would finish before I left but then I came right on the day and even managed to beat the time of last year’s winner by 14 minutes," he said.

The triathlon, which is over full Olympic distances of a 1500 metre swim, a 40 kilometre bike ride and a 10 kilometre run, was Dean’s first outing against amputees, after regularly competing against able bodied athletes.

Dean, who lost a leg at the knee in a motorcycle accident 11 years ago, can regularly be seen training at the Palmwoods Swimming Pool, running around Palmwoods and Eudlo or riding his bike to Kawana, Noosa or Glasshouse.

And that’s only part of what he crams into his life. He has also just completed his Bachelor of Business degree at the QUT. For the past three years, as well as regularly commuting to Brisbane for lectures, he has also had assignments and study between his rigorous training sessions in three sports.

"It has been the ultimate balancing act," he said. "But the hardest part is now, trying to find a job."

Despite his grit, Dean is happy to attribute at least part of his win to his sponsors, Cash Converters in Maroochydore, who put up the $4500 he desperately needed for a "new leg" to allow him to compete.

He said he had also been helped along by Cycle World who provided him with shoes and pedals and a box to transport his bike, Trimax, the Sunshine Coast Sportsmen’s Association, Maroochy Shire Council, Mike’s PC Speak in Palmwoods and the Palmwoods Swimming Club.

"I would also like to thank my friends in the tri squad at the Palmwoods pool, the residents of Palmwoods who have helped me with fundraising and my family," he said.

Dean will now be competing in the Adidas New Challenge Triathlon series with his next race at Clontarf, on December 15.