KY HURST – Olympic Swimmer, Australian Ironman Champion, America’s Cup Challenger, Surf Lifesavings Hall of Fame, Brand Ambassador, Keynote & Motivational Speaker
Like a relentless wave with a powerful surge of what feels like immeasurable acceleration, such is the force of nature that embodies Australia’s top endurance athlete, Ky Hurst. Known for his mastery of three sports, as a 7x Australian Ironman Champion record-holder and 2x Olympic swimmer (Beijing 2008 & London 2012) along with 30x Surf Lifesaving Championship accolades (ranking 2nd highest medallist in the peak water rescue authority’s 115-year history) and his involvement with Oracle Team USA’s America’s Cup challenge, Husrt has also competed in over 10 FINA World Championships around the globe as well as the Pan Pacific Swimming and World Open Water Championships. In fact, there’s little Hurst hasn’t competed in when it comes to water (and out of the water too…after all, he once battled it out for Cleo’s Bachelor of the Year and was a fierce contender on Dancing With The Stars!). Built with awe-inspiring aquatic agility (not to mention, his ‘moves’ like Jagger!), what’s clear is that Hurst thrives on adrenalin and moves at an exhilarating pace which waits for no one.
Recently honoured with a rare and special double induction into the Surf Lifesaving and Australian Marathon Swimming Halls of Fame, rewind two decades and Hurst was one of the youngest contenders to ever compete in the Uncle Toby’s Super Series (winning three annual titles consecutively too).
A year later, Hurst burst onto the marathon open water swimming scene with tireless bravado, scoring his first FINA World Championship medal. It was a breakthrough chapter in a storied career that’s seen Hurst conquer open water and surf races like no other before him. So much so it’s secured his place as Australia’s greatest ever waterman which includes his history-making Olympic debut in Beijing (2008) competing in the first-ever open water event and a second Olympic blazer in London (2012). Oh, here’s a fun fact: Hurst has a lung capacity of 10.2 litres (while the average man has 6 litres!) which no doubt served him well during his swim across the Strait of Gibraltar for the 2016 documentary Swim to Africa.
Since hanging up his togs, Hurst swapped out swimming for sailing, taking up a position of lead grinder on Team Oracle in the defence of the America’s Cup in Bermuda. For Hurst, it was a career highlight being part of the oldest international sports competition still operating (but ask him about this starring role in Home & Away too!). Today, Hurst is an absolute authority on the motivational speaking circuit as well as a passionate Ambassador for the Banana Boat SwimKids Series and Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service Schools Program. And after 30 years of being mentored by the best in the business, you’ll also find Hurst providing high performance programming via in-person and online training, clinical assessments and mentoring to Australia’s network of surf lifesaving clubs.
