In the early hours of Sunday morning, the sun rose over Cairns as nine proud Blak athletes stood at the edge of the ocean in Palm Cove.
But they weren’t just athletes preparing for one of the world’s toughest endurance events - they were part of something much bigger.
They were there as a team. As TRIMOB.
Together, they were about to take on Ironman Cairns - a 3.8km ocean swim, a 180km ride along the stunning but unforgiving coast, and a 42.2km run to the finish line.
All of it to be completed in under 17 hours.
And they did it. Every single one of them crossed that finish line - proving that this was more than a race.
The mob who crossed the finish line
Each of the seven athletes carried with them a story of resilience, strength, and cultural pride.
Shaped by different journeys, from different Country's, and driven by different reasons for taking part, they stood side by side - not just finishing the race, but making history together.
Olive Snell, a Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung woman, reflected on the mental hurdles she had overcome throughout the IRONMOB journey.
“There’s been a lot of times on my journey that I believe that I can't do it. That I won't be able to finish. That I'm not the type of person that can do it.
"But I always continue to work hard and prove myself wrong. I hope that other mob see that and believe they can do it too," she said.
Malachi Murljacic, a Kunja man, found strength not only in the training but in the shared purpose of the group.
“To get to share this experience and journey with other First Nations mob, all with their own unique stories, drivers, and experiences, is really special.
"We have all become close, and support each other to get this done. It's not about me - it's about we.”
For Kirsty Nichols, a Muran and Kungarakun woman and mother of two, the race was deeply personal.
“I've gone from hardly being able to swim laps - to being able to swim the distance of a full Ironman in open water.
"With each challenge, I've been able to rise to the occasion and meet myself and my challenges head-on. I'm way stronger than I thought and I couldn't be more proud of myself," she said.
Kuku Yalanji woman Crystal Stephens raced on home soil, surrounded by family and community.
“I took on the IRONMOB program to contribute to the representation of First Nations peoples in triathlon. Cairns is my hometown, so to have friends and family present and be with the mob is amazing.
"I want to role model for the younger generation and showcase that if I can, you can too.”
Dunghutti men Thomas Kelly and Anthony Smith, along with Kyal Atkinson, a proud Yorta Yorta man, also crossed the finish line - earning the title of Ironmen.
More than a race: The legacy of Ironman
The Ironman triathlon is not for the faint-hearted.
Often called the hardest one-day sporting event in the world, it began in 1978 in Hawai‘i to settle a friendly argument between swimmers, cyclists and runners.
Since then, more than 700,000 people have completed an Ironman worldwide.
In Australia, tens of thousands have finished the race, including six Ironman World Champions.
But for more than 40 years, First Nations people remained drastically under-represented.
Until TRIMOB changed that.
TRIMOB: Redefining what’s possible
Before TRIMOB’s creation, there were only 12 known First Nations Ironman finishers in history. That number has now more than doubled, thanks to the culturally safe and community-driven IRONMOB program.
Through a 15-month journey of guided training, cultural connection, and deep personal development, TRIMOB’s IRONMOB initiative prepares Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for the ultimate test of endurance - and transforms lives along the way.
In 2023, TRIMOB launched its first IRONMOB group - six trailblazing athletes: Bobby Maher, Leisa Leon, Koorinya Moreton, Robert Briggs, Ray Landers, and Olly Whiteley - who completed Ironman Australia in May 2024.
Their efforts paved the way for this second group of nine, who took on Ironman Cairns with the same strength, determination and cultural pride.
By the end of the 2025 Cairns race, TRIMOB had helped raise the total number of known First Nations Ironman finishers to 29 - a historic leap in representation.
It’s about we, not me
What sets TRIMOB apart isn’t just the physical accomplishment. It’s the way the program centres culture, community, and collective support.
IRONMOB isn’t about finishing first - it’s about lifting each other up, staying strong through the challenges, and crossing the line together.
As Mr Murljacic said: “We all want to make sure that all of us cross the line in Cairns.”
And they did.
