WHO AM I?
My name is Kent Cross, I was born in Brisbane, Australia – where I currently still live and I'm an age group triathlete. If you told me five years ago that I was going to end up in Triathlon, a sport which requires so much mental and physical toughness and a whole lot of pain, I probably would have laughed at you and then subtly googled what a Triathlon is. I've always been involved in sport since an early age, but not the kind of sport the typical young Aussies plays - I was terrible at all sports that involved rackets, bats, balls. So, when I was lucky enough to be introduced into the world of Motorsport, that was where I found my niche. I started racing when I was seven years old in Go Karts, the preliminary point for any young driver with dreams of making the top level in Motorsport, F1. From my first experience in Go Karts, I always knew what I wanted to do, race cars and make it to F1. I ate, breathed, lived and slept all things Motorsport. When I was fourteen I moved into cars, racing in Formula Vee around Australia and dabbling in a series called Formula BMW in Asia. Thankfully with the support of my family (whom I’m forever indebted to) I was able to experience success in Australian Motorsport. Upon finishing my education, the desire to race cars was still overwhelming, so I did what any starry eyed seventeen-year-old kid would do – and packed my bags hoping for the big time in the UK. |
Race Experience Triathlon/Running
Motorsport
Qualifications
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I spent eight years in the UK from 2011 to 2018. The first four years I continued to race, competing in Formula Ford, testing in Formula Renault and in the latter years getting involved in endurance racing (six-hour duration races). However, as everyone knows money plays a huge part in Motorsport. If you are reading this and you think triathlon is expensive, then try and afford a set of tyres for a single race – it’s another level of financial commitment! Inevitably, after many years of racing I stopped in the sport due to the unmanageable funding involved. With my ambition to compete still evident, and a heck of a lot more free time, I subsequently fell into Triathlon - and before I knew it I had a new sporting obsession. Thankfully a less financially crippling one!
Now, in my third year of triathlon, I still consider myself new to the sport. However, I’m a quick learner and hugely motivated to succeed. I appreciate within Triathlon I can now prove my worth with good old grit and determination - as opposed to Motorsport, whereby success is resolved by who has the deepest pockets. As I mentioned earlier, I never thought I would end up in Triathlon – a sport which requires a constant use of your legs. Once, I only had to look at the leg press machine at the gym and my legs would turn to jelly and I would be walking around like John Wayne for a week.
Now, in my third year of triathlon, I still consider myself new to the sport. However, I’m a quick learner and hugely motivated to succeed. I appreciate within Triathlon I can now prove my worth with good old grit and determination - as opposed to Motorsport, whereby success is resolved by who has the deepest pockets. As I mentioned earlier, I never thought I would end up in Triathlon – a sport which requires a constant use of your legs. Once, I only had to look at the leg press machine at the gym and my legs would turn to jelly and I would be walking around like John Wayne for a week.
Triathlon has enabled me to constantly push myself to find new limits and discover things about myself I didn't even know I was capable of. I've met some amazing people who have become very close friends and I’m thrilled that I continue to come across these fantastic individuals whose unique outlook on life inspires me and encourages me to challenge my own ideals. These personal connections are one of the many great things about triathlon.
It’s safe to say that I'm hooked on this sport now – it’s like a drug, and I'm looking forward to what the many years in this sport bring.
Refuse to lose.
Brisbane, QLD, Australia [email protected] +61 0405030530