He was a promising triathlete, a lifeguard and an all-round good bloke.
And on Saturday, athletes past and present will come together to compete in his memory.
The Cronulla Triathlon Club will host the 30th Richie Walker Aquathlon on Saturday which will incorporate the age group national championships for the first time, with athletes from all over Australia expected to compete.
Next year will be the 30th anniversary of Walker’s sudden and tragic death from a heart attack during a race at Tamworth.
Former Cronulla Triathlon Club president Bronwyn Elford said she hoped a large crowd would turn out for the event.
“Obviously it’s a special year being the 30th race,” she said.
“This is the first time that the Richie Walker event will be the national championships as well.
“[The race] started out as an aquathlon but then it was run as a triathlon for a while in the middle there.
“Richie was a great up and coming sportsman, his mum was an Olympic swimmer and his dad played for St George.”
Two races were held in the first year after Walker died, making Saturday’s event the 30th held in his honour.
All money raised will go to the Heart Foundation, with the event raising more than $30,000 for the cause since its inception.
Former world champions Chris McCormack, Michellie Jones and Peter Roberston are all previous winners of the race, which will be held at its traditional Gunnamatta Bay Park course at Cronulla.
There are four race categories including a 100 metre swim and 750 run for children aged 7 to 9, 250 metre swim and 1.6 kilometre run for 10 to 12-year-olds and a 375 metre swim and 3.2 kilometre run for 13 to 15-year-olds.
Athletes aged 16 and over will compete over a 1 kilometre swim and 5 kilometre run.
Children’s races start at 8.30am, while the adult race starts at 10am.
