The flying doctor
[ The University of Melbourne Voice Vol. 5, No. 3
8 June - 12 July 2009 ] By David Scott
Mitchell Anderson has a pretty simple philosophy to his success as an elite athlete in Ironman Triathlons around the world.
“Damien Angus – a good university friend of mine who did a PhD in carbohydrate metabolism – and I have always said that we’re moderately talented athletes getting the most out of ourselves.”
“I’m not an outstanding physical specimen by any means, however knowing more about my body, its strengths and limitations, has meant I’ve been able to maximise the opportunities I’ve had.”
By his own admission, he has the University of Melbourne to thank for giving him more than just a qualification (or two).
In almost 12 full years at Parkville between 1994 and 2006, the 34-year-old walked away with a Physiotherapy degree, an honours degree in Exercise Physiology, a Masters in Exercise Genetics, a Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery degree, plus a career as a professional triathlete.
“I reckon I’m almost eligible for Life Membership!” Anderson laughs. “Coming to Melbourne really stimulated my interest in triathlon and it was a really good growth area as an athlete and a student. I was working at the Beaurepaire Pool at the University as a life guard in 1995 when my then girlfriend introduced me to Michael Calder at the Triathlon Club, who suggested I come down and give it go. The rest as they say is history!”
For Anderson, his studies and his sport have always managed to go hand in hand. “I’ve always been fascinated by trying to get the most out of my body, which is part of the reason I studied for 12 years.
“I always wanted to know more and more. I’ve been lucky my body has been pretty good for a triathlete and I’ve had some good successes, and that’s what really drives you.
“Certainly if you did a vox pop of pro triathletes, I’d be the outsider in terms of my commitment to study. However it is a white collar sport, what with the amount of financial backing you need for all the equipment, so I’m not the only one with a University degree competing.
“If you’re going to have some success you need a few neurons to run together, though obviously desperation is a good motivator as well – if you want it enough, it’ll happen.”
The Flying Doctor, as he is known on the circuit, has certainly tasted his share of success across more than twenty Ironman triathlons, which consist of a 3.86km swim, a 180.25km bike ride and a 42.195km run.
He won Ironman Western Australia in 2005, has five Ironman Hawaii finishes including 11th in 2004, and holds bike course records at Ironman Australia, Ironman Western Australia and Ironman Japan.
Most recently he won the Strongman All Japan Triathlon in April in under eight hours.
“Winning Ironman WA was the key that unlocked being a full time pro. Coming 11th in Hawaii was both the biggest achievement and biggest disappointment in my career – I just missed out on a top ten finish, but its one of the hardest, biggest and most elite Ironman competitions on the planet, so it was rewarding to finish so well.
“Ironman is such a finish line orientated sport, every time you finish you get a sense of achievement – a huge buzz given it’s such a long event.”
While Anderson keeps his hand in medicine working as a part-time registrar at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, he acknowledges that the limited life span of an elite triathlete means he will only have “three to four years left”, and he’s working hard to make those years as successful as those just gone.
“My major goal is to go top ten in Hawaii this year and try to repeat at WA. I’m also going to race in Europe for a couple of months, in Belgium and Antwerp, juggling life as a professional athlete and a partner.” Anderson says it’s both a help and a hindrance that his wife is a professional cyclist.
“She’s incredibly understanding of the importance of training to me, and of the time spent preparing for competitions as she does a lot of similar work in her training, however we do spend lots of time apart while we’re racing around the world which is difficult.”
And somewhere in there, Mitch Anderson plans to return to the University as part of the newly established Melbourne University Sport Board, joining people such as Dr Lynne Williams (Deputy Secretary, Economic and Financial Policy Division, Victorian Government), CEO of Cricket Australia James Sutherland, former World Rowing Championships gold medalist and Rowing Australia legal counsel Geoff Rees and University of Melbourne Professor of Physiology Mark Hargraves.
“We’re really trying to increase awareness of University sport both inside the Uni structure and outside by enhancing its reputation profile, inside and out.”
Follow Mitch Anderson’s race results:
www.mitchellanderson.com
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