“It’s a different kind of suffering to boxing, a proper grind.” Pro boxer Harry Garside shares how he got on swapping fighting for triathlon at the T100 Gold Coast

He’s known for pulling on the gloves and representing Australia in boxing and has won Commonwealth Gold. This time though Harry Garside is pulling on a tri-suit to give multisport a go at the T100 Gold Coast race. In his own words, here’s how his day went…

I’m Harry Garside — a professional boxer by trade — but last month I stepped into something completely different at the Gold Coast T100 Triathlon.

Boxing has been my world since I was nine years old. I started out trying to prove something — to my brothers, to the people around me, maybe to myself. Over time, it became something I genuinely loved. It’s taken me across the world, to the Olympics, and given me experiences I’ll carry forever. But after 20 years in the sport, I’ve been searching for something new — something that challenges me in a different way and rekindles that sense of pure enjoyment.

Triathlon has helped with that — and, honestly, it all came about pretty casually. A couple of my school mates up on the Gold Coast signed up for the T100 and told me they were going to give it a crack. I’d seen it [the T100 Tour] kinda of blow up over the last few years and it kept popping up in my social feed, so I thought, “Why not?” and just booked it in. Simple as that.

Triathlons have always been really interesting to me. We used to have in Australia, this Weetabix Triathlon Series. I think I was like six or seven when I did my first one, it was like, like 100 meters swim. It was really small. But I just remember how much fun I had on that day.

Most of my mates who signed up ended up pulling out through injury, which I’ve given them plenty of stick for, but I stuck with it. Having a few mates involved — even just around the event — made it feel like the perfect way to dive in.

I’ve always been drawn to triathlon. There’s something about combining three disciplines — swim, bike, run — and asking your body to hold on for that long that really excites me. It’s a different kind of suffering to boxing. Less explosive, more sustained. A proper grind. And I’ve always seen myself as a grinder.

Starting my training

The training block leading into the race was eye-opening. In boxing, you’re constantly managing weight, often under-fuelled and dehydrated. Here, I was the opposite — eating well, sleeping deeply, and training for hours at a time. Long rides, steady runs, and, to be honest, a fair bit of time battling through the water because my swimming isn’t exactly world-class. But I loved the process. It gave me time to get out of my head and back into my body — something I didn’t realise I’d been missing. I genuinely believe sport is one of the most beautiful things we can do as humans — at the end of the day, we’re animals, and moving, pushing ourselves, and connecting with our bodies brings us back to something really raw and real.

Race morning brought all the familiar nerves. That restless sleep the night before, the anxious energy, the constant trips to the toilet — it’s such a human experience. I actually love that feeling. It means you care. There’s something powerful about standing on a start line knowing you’ve put yourself out there, feeling that mix of fear, excitement and doubt all at once — it makes you feel incredibly alive. I love the full ritual of it too: the early wake-up, forcing down breakfast, the buzz of everyone around you, and that moment just before the gun goes when everything goes quiet in your own head.

Sunrise on race day

Standing on the start line on the Gold Coast — a place that means a lot to me, where I won Commonwealth Games gold — felt pretty special. The atmosphere was building, the sun coming up, and I knew I was in for a big day.

The swim was exactly what I expected: chaotic. I’m not the most technical swimmer, so it was about staying calm, finding rhythm, and getting through it. By the time I got out of the water, I could already feel that early fatigue setting in.

On the bike, things settled slightly — but the wind made it tough. There were moments where I questioned whether I was pushing hard enough, and others where I knew I just had to hold back a touch. It’s a constant mental tug-of-war. You’re balancing effort, doubt, and discipline all at once.

Then came the run — and that’s where it really became a test. I had a goal of breaking four hours, but as soon as I got off the bike, I knew it would be tight. My legs were heavy, and it turned into a proper grind. At that point, it’s less about pace and more about mindset. Just keep moving. Just don’t stop.

Crowd support

What got me through was the crowd. The support on the sidelines was unreal. When people are cheering you on, it lifts you in a way that’s hard to explain. You feel part of something bigger than yourself, and it carries you forward when your body wants to give in.

Crossing the finish line, I was completely spent. I wanted to collapse — and I pretty much did — but underneath that exhaustion was a deep sense of pride. You go through so many small battles in a race like that, and finishing feels like you’ve earned something real.

I didn’t hit my four-hour goal this time, which stings a bit. But that just gives me a reason to come back.

My message to anyone else thinking about doing a T100..? I truly think we get one life. You know, don’t waste your time on things you don’t enjoy. And, a T100, you might not enjoy it [laughs] while you’re in it, but I know the whole process of, you know, slaying a few dragons throughout the process of preparation, and then actually doing the race, and then having that sense of pride. I think that’s why people should always test themselves, challenge themselves, and try and have fun in this life, and enjoy it as best you can.

Race the Gold Coast T100

More than 5,000 amateur athletes took part across the Gold Coast T100 weekend, including participants from around the world and as far afield as the UK, Singapore and China. Doing the T100 distance (2km swim, 80km bike, 18km run) that Harry Garside completed, as well as an Olympic distance triathlon and a 10km run. The Gold Coast T100 Triathlon will return in 2027 on 20-21 March, but with the T100 selling out in just nine days last year you’ll need to be quick. For more information and to register, visit www.t100triathlon.com

Harry’s Race Stats

Harry Garside (25-29 yrs)

2km Swim – 00:33:33

80km Bike – 02:45:22

18km Run – 01:22:59

Total = 04:10:58

 Harry was 11^th place out of 71 in 25-29 category – just missing out on qualification for the Age Group T100 World Championships in Qatar

All images courtesy of T100