Life Member of Cronulla Triathlon Club, Michellie Jones, is just the third Australian to be selected for induction into the Ironman Hall of Fame.
One of the most accomplished triathletes of all time, Jones was the first Australian woman to win the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii in 2006.
Jones, 49, who trained under master swim coach Dick Caine at Carss Park pool, grew up at Lugarno and lived in Cronulla for a time before relocating to the US.
She was dual International Triathlon Union champion in 1992 and 1993 the same years she took out the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader Sportstar of the Year award.
When women's triathlon made its Olympic entry at the 2000 Sydney Games, Jones took home a silver medal - missing out on gold by just two seconds.
She will officially be inducted into the Ironman Hall of Fame on October 9 at a ceremony held in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, during this year's World Championship race week - joining fellow Australians Greg Welch (2004) and Ken Baggs (2018, administrator) in the exclusive club.
"I didn't think Ironman was ever going to be a path I would follow as it terrified and intimidated me," she said.
"But destiny led me to one of the highlights of my career ... I am extremely honoured and extremely privileged to what my sport has bestowed on me.
"I am truly grateful to all those that made my journey possible."
Jones - who has already been inducted into the ITU and Triathlon Australia Halls of Fame - will be joined by American dual Ironman world champion Tim DeBoom, four-time world championship finisher Kenneth Gasque and 40-year volunteer Jan War as this year's inductees.
She remains active in the sport of triathlon as an Ironman University certified coach and she serves as the head coach for the University of California San Diego triathlon team.
In 2016, Jones returned to the Olympics when she served as a guide for paratriathlete Katie Kelly, winning gold.
with Australian Associated Press
