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HALL OF FAME ACCEPTATION SPEECH
Thank you.
First of
all I would like to take this opportunity to thank the World
Triathlon Corporation, The Florida Office and Kona office, to
all of you Thank you.
I need to
thank Peter and Donna Henning for giving me the advice and also
making a fool out of me, YES, the infamous Blooper tape!
Ben and
Dara Fertic, for your friendship and most of all, your
LEADERSHIP.
To Dan
Kevin and Nick, and all Ironmanlive.com crew, you rock!
I’d like to
thank the Academy! I’m not using a teleprompter tonight so bear
with me, and if I get the music wind up just yell and throw
crap!
I sort of
feel like an athlete again so I feel the urge to thank a few
people. I couldn’t have come this far without support and you
have all been instrumental in my career.
Tim
Twardzik from Mrs T’s Pierogie's,
Larry
Maddox, AKA Twin Brother
Reebok and
John Duke
And all the
sponsors that believed in me, why, I don’t know but thank you!
To the
staff at Triathlete and Competitor, Bob Lois and John and to
Delly, Rich, Robert and Tony for making me look pretty good. To
Tim Carlson for your kind words. To my web guy at GregWelch.com
Shawn, you go EH!
To my
Canucky neighbors, love thy neighbor, Roch and Heather and Lori,
take your own garbage out next week, Paul and Paula my dear
friends that share the same passion, over working and getting
under paid!
Murphy and
Shannon, well Murph, here’s my chance, NAH I’ll let you off, you
believed and protected me and I thank you for it, you also made
me great coin, only to give it all back to Shannon with your
wonderful Jewellery, that hangs from my wife’s goddess like body
tonight.
To Mike and
Rose and all the people I work with thru the year Whit, Don and
company.
To my
fellow competitors, thanks for letting me win except you two,
Mark and Dave, if it wasn’t for you guys, I wouldn’t be half the
competitor I was, thanks for raising the bar. NOT! To Jurgen,
thanks for showing me the German Culture mate, nudge nudge wink
wink!
Mickey and
Lisa, Mate, thanks for introducing Sian and I. Hope you brought
the bullhorn.
To The
Chong's, Warren, Joan, Chelsea, Kelli-Anne and Devin, I met you
18 years ago and we share a family like relationship.
To the
Southwell's, What do I say about you! You taught me everything,
and we wont go there. Good Luck Bob, he’s over 75 and watch him
go, and to Tony and Leanne for being here and good luck Tony.
Seven Southwell's raced at The Australian Ironman and they all
finished with 5 qualifying.
To Kay
MacPherson, the friend I always seek in hard times, the ears I
need and the voice I listen to.
To Patrick
and Lisa, A Bloody good read is on the way, Stop the press!
My Family,
my two brothers Darren and his family and Justin and Melissa.
My father
Pat and father in law Vince the Prince.
My girls,
five of them, My mother in Law Mary, my motivator, MY mother
Noelene, my inspiration, and my girls Annie and Emma, my
precious little gifts.
Sian
There are
many things in life that catch your eye
But only a few that will catch your heart.
To have a soul mate you must be one.
It’s usually a natural selection.
Soul mates find each other.
But you must be receptive.
It’s a beautiful rewarding friendship.
It has a strong spiritual element.
It cant be manufactured or forced.
And as
Aristotle said
“A single soul dwelling in two bodies”.
One thing
in Life I want to share with you.
I started
sport as a frustrated runner and left as a triathlete… NEARLY
DEAD.
At my
retirement, people were saying, what a shame, and how
devastating! He must be crushed.
Scott
Tinley said, No just think of Greg like this, He is this little
warrior returning from a battle with a minor wound.
He is not a
victim.
Victim, I
thought, what?
So I looked
up victim in the dictionary, it said, Victim…Someone killed or
injured by an accident, or so that an object can be gained by
another. Nope, not me! Its gotta be better than this. I’m happy,
so happy.
So I looked
up Happy, It said, Glad, content, lucky and fortunate, now
that’s more like it.
To Finish
off, I wanted to leave you on a high and not down so this is for
you Pro’s and Age groupers, first the pros.
You all
have the potential
You all have the courage, the determination and knowledge to
make the break
Explore the risks, stay to the plan, keep your nerve
And make your commitment.
The age
groupers.
This is
much more than a race
It’s a personal challenge-as much mental as physical.
Learn as you race.
Take it in bite size chunks
Prepare your body and mind carefully
Trust yourself
Commit yourself to finish
Keep your promise.
Carpe Diem… Seize the day.
Thank you. |
