Bring back Iron Mike’s Mighty ‘Mo

It was there in the 80s — Enduring thousands of hours of gruelling training, pictured on podiums and getting peppered with Kona-induced sweat. Yes, we are talking about triathlete and Ironman Mike Prentice’s weapon of a moustache.

Before we continue — a bit of background for those who aren’t up to speed — When Mike Prentice was racing in the Ironman World Championships in the 1980s aerodynamic helmets didn’t exist, his Raleigh bike weighed as much as a small child, his wife Wendy had sewn his jersey, and he was mistakenly relying on Coke as his hydration (painful lesson); and he still managed to pull 9:15 – with a mechanical – for a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and a 42.2km run. Which is epic.

Now in his fifties and having been out of the triathlon game for years due to injury, Mike had a hip operation last year and — now given the all clear — there has been talk about whether Iron Mike will return to the sport. Who can be sure, but what we confirm is that his mighty ‘mo will — all in the name of charity.

Generously pledging to help raise money for the Children’s Cancer Institute, and caving to public pressure, Mike checked with his wife and then very reluctantly agreed to reinstate the 1980s somewhat porn star-esque facial fur, much to the amusement (and slight discomfort) of those around him.

The days leading up to the Townsville to Cairns Bike Ride are passing VERY slowly as Mike serves customers at Top Brand Cycles, attends key social events, and rides with his mates with the ever-present ‘handlebars’ generating questioning looks.