KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii, Oct 10 AAP - Even by Pete Jacobs' standards, this has been a tumultuous buildup to the Hawaiian Ironman triathlon world championships.
The popular Australian nicknamed the Albino Tiger is confident of a strong performance on Saturday at Kona on Hawaii's Big Island, despite suffering from prolonged fatigue issues earlier this year.
Jacobs has also had a very public spat with Andrew Messick, one of the most powerful figures in the sport.
And the 2012 champion is coming off a disappointing title defence last year, when a lower back problem flared during the race and he slogged his way through the marathon to finish 32nd.
But Jacobs has regularly suffered early-season health or injury problems and he knows he has the goods to perform well at triathlon's most famous race.
"I'm following the same program as every other year - get injured or be sick early in the year, miss a fair bit and then come back and start training well in August," Jacobs said.
"It's worked out four of the last five years."
Jacobs showed a glimpse of better form last month when he finished third at the Sunshine Coast 70.3, or half Ironman, race.
Like compatriot and defending women's champion Mirinda Carfrae, Jacobs is renowned for a strong run.
So if he is in the hunt after the 3.8km swim and 180km cycle, Jacobs will be ready to do some damage in the 42.2km marathon.
"I can run okay here in the heat and I'm looking forward to the pain," he said.
But Jacobs has more on his mind in the last few weeks than just preparing for Hawaii.
In early August, Messick gave a media interview where he noted the Australian's slow time at an Ironman triathlon in Zurich.
Messick is chief executive of the World Triathlon Corporation, which owns the Ironman brand.
Jacobs had to finish an Ironman race to qualify for Hawaii, but Messick said his time of 11 hours 42 minutes was "simply punching a ticket".
It was more than three hours slower than Jacobs's winning Hawaii time.
Earlier this month, Jacobs wrote a wide-ranging open letter on his website to Messick, criticising the Ironman boss and giving his side of the story.
Jacobs noted at the time of Zurich in July, he was still regaining full health.
Asked about Jacobs at Thursday's pre-race media conference, Messick said they had spoken privately since.
"Pete told me exactly how he felt and what was on his mind and I told him exactly how I felt and what was on my mind and we're good," Messick said.
Jacobs later chose his words carefully in response, but made it clear he remains unhappy about the WTC.
"I had nothing to lose because I was already on the outer," he told AAP.
"The support (I've had) from age groupers and professionals showed that ... they are really stoked that someone stood up."
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