Ali Day felt fate played a part as he completed a dream comeback by toppling legendary eight-times winner Shannon Eckstein to become Nutri-Grain Ironman Series champion.
The title battle came down to Sunday's sixth and final round and the pair fought out a lung-busting sprint finish at Newcastle's Main Beach.
A gallant Eckstein won the race but rising star Day claimed his first series crown, with his second placing just enough to hold out the 33-year-old legend in the points tally.
For 24-year-old wildcard entry Day is was sweet vindication for his hard work after missing all of last season due to severe exhaustion and a liver complaint.
"I can't believe it. I'm holding back the tears," said Day, from Mooloolaba.
"It's been a tough year coming back.
"My coach Michael King also rang me last night to say that it was 20 years to the day that he won his series, so it was fate."
Eckstein has battled an achilles tendon injury and sinus problems this season, refusing to make excuses.
"We haven't had a battle come down to the last couple of rounds for probably eight or so years, so it is really good for the sport that Ali has won a series," said Eckstein.
"He came back and raced consistently all season, so congratulations to him."
After winning round five on Saturday, Matt Poole finished fourth in Sunday's event to secure third place for the series.
"Mathematically it was still a possibility for me to win the series, but when Ali and Shannon came out racing as fast as they did today, I knew it was going to be pretty much out of the question," said Poole.
"I'm stoked to finish third."
Final men's series standings: 1. Ali Day 2. Shannon Eckstein 3. Matt Poole 4. Ky Hurst 5. Kendrick Louis 6. Wes Berg 7. Matt Bevilacqua 8. Jack Moyes 9. Tanyn Lyndon 10. Luke Cuff 11. Caine Eckstein 12. Nathan Smith 13. Jackson Maynard 14. Hayden Allum 15. Sam Hamilton.
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