WHAT MAKES A TRIATHLETE A LONG COURSE LEGEND?

Long Course Legends at the Busselton Festival of Triathlon are athletes who have completed 15 or more WA State Long Course (LC) Championship events since records began in 1983. Triathlon WA was formally established as a State body in 1986, with many Long Course Legends – some boasting 30+ finishes – playing a pivotal role in shaping and growing the sport in Western Australia.

This recognition as a Long Course Legend celebrates their dedication to triathlon and their enduring commitment to long-course racing in the state.

15+ STATE LONG COURSE FINISHERS

The below record is accurate as at EOY 2025.

Long Course Legend Race Benefits

Long Course Legends race in gold swim caps, and are racked in the Legends section of transition. They also receive their entries at the lowest price available. These are small ways that we can give back to and recognise these amazing long course athletes.

History of the WA State Long Course Championships

The WA State Long Course Triathlon Championship is celebrating its 43rd year in 2026, marking the 25th year of the event being held in Busselton. The race had its humble beginnings in Midland in 1983, before Triathlon WA was even established, with just 49 participants completing the inaugural race. It remained there for two years, featuring a 2km swim, 54km cycle, and 20km run.

In 1985, the event moved to Rottnest, maintaining the same race distances. The following year, Triathlon WA was founded as the state governing body for triathlon, and in November, the race continued at Rottnest with the cycling leg extended to 81km for the 83 competitors. In 1987, the event shifted to May and faced extreme weather conditions, including gale-force winds, hail, and heavy rain. Many athletes suffered from hypothermia or injuries after being blown off their bikes at high speeds.

To avoid a repeat of these conditions, the event moved to Collie in 1988 but returned to Rottnest in 1989. That year also saw the introduction of a short course support event to help manage the costs of the Long Course race.

In 1997, the race headquarters shifted from the Rottnest Pub to Kingstown Barracks and served as the Australian Long Course Championships. The final Rottnest Long Course event took place in 2000, although few participants knew it would be the last. After extensive discussions, the event relocated to Margaret River in 2001, but it became clear within a year that it had outgrown that location.

In 2002, WA’s Half Ironman Triathlon found a new and exciting home in the picturesque South West town of Busselton. The course featured calm, crystal-clear waters for the swim, flat and fast roads through scenic landscapes for the cycle, and a run along the stunning Busselton waterfront.

By 2010, the event was rebranded as an Ironman 70.3 triathlon and became part of the global Ironman 70.3 qualification series, a status it maintained until 2022. Over time, the event expanded to span an entire weekend.

In 2022, the event evolved into its current format. The Busselton 100 distance now consists of a 2km swim alongside the iconic Busselton Jetty, an 80km cycle through the Tuart Forest, and an 18km run along the Busselton Foreshore, passing through an event village packed with spectators cheering on the athletes. The event continues to grow, now serving as a weekend-long festival celebrating both sport and community, with activities catering to all.

Triathlon WA has been involved with the WA State Long Course Championships since the beginning. As a non-profit organisation, managing the Busselton Festival of Triathlon is crucial in supporting Triathlon WA’s mission to serve over 2,000 members and 19 affiliated clubs, while also fostering the growth of triathlon across Western Australia.

From its modest start with fewer than 50 participants, the event has grown to attract over 2,000 competitors, including elite and age group athletes from around the globe. The success of the event is a testament to the support and passion of the WA triathlon community, the City of Busselton, Tourism Western Australia, CITS, our partners, and the local community, all of whom play a vital role in helping Triathlon WA deliver one of the most iconic and significant triathlon events in the Southern Hemisphere.