8/2/2019 PROfile: Joe Gambles

1/136 MARCH 2012

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JOE GAMBLES

PROfile

Originally from the United Kingdom,

the Gambles family relocated to the

Australian island of Tasmania when

Joe was 3 years old. The move servedhim well, as the sporting culture of the

land Down Under nurtured Gambles

competitive nature. He first followed

the European triathlon circuit, then

transitioned to a U.S. base and long-

course race format, winning his first

attempt at the full Ironman in Wisconsin in

2010. Gambles nabbed a pair of victories

in 2011 at Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie

and Ironman 70.3 Boulder and sprinted

his way to a silver medal at the 2011 ITU

Long Course World Championship in

Las Vegas. The future looks evenbrighter for this already accomplished

30-year-old Aussie.

By Holly Bennett

Blanking on Britain: I dont really

remember the U.K. as a child. My

first memory is getting o the

plane from England and arriving in

Tasmania. My dad had been there

a month earlier to set up work and

a place to live, and I remember

running across the tarmac to meet

him. Which at that point you were

allowed to dosecurity wasnt

what it is now.

The brainsandthe brawn: I was

Dux of my school. Its the most

academic studentlike being

valedictorian. My parents were

more shocked than anyone else.

I was fairly academic I guess, but

then sports took over.

Type A, much?: Im a neat freak.

Come to my house and youll

see. I wont go to bed unless the

kitchens clean, the table and

chairs are straight, the dishes clean.

Last year I got back from Kona

at 1 a.m., completely exhausted,

and I unpacked and did laundry

and organized everythingand

then I slept until 11 a.m. because I

was happy! As a kid I used to keep

everything straight. My mum and

dad never had to ask me to clean

up my room. I used to clean up my

sisters room for her! I hate clutter

oh my God, I hate it.

Melbournes a must: Melbournes

one of my favorite cities in the world,

and to race there and to potentially

try and win there would be amazing.

Melbourne is the sporting capital

of Australiathey really know their

sport. Im excited about Ironman

Melbourne now and its still months

away. Thats whats going to get me

out of bed at 6 a.m. this winter.

Furred, feathered or finned

theyre all friends: Ive never eaten

a bite of meat in my entire life. I cant

process in my mind why youd want

to do it. Biting into flesh? It doesnt

make any sense to me. Traveling

can be hard, but now Im pretty

prepared. Initially when I was racing

internationally, I was in France and

Germany and I did eat a lot of bread

and cheese. I remember going into

races thinking: I dont know if Im

going to race too well after all that

Brie and baguette!

NICK

SALAZAR