Luke Jarrod McKenzie (born 26 July 1981) is an Australian professional triathlete who specializes in long distance, non-drafting triathlon events. In 2013 he took second place at the Ironman World Championship.
Career McKenzie was born and raised in Taree, New South Wales where he grew up participating in a variety of sports including cricket, water polo, and golf. His first introduction and interest in triathlon came from volunteering at a marathon aid station in Forster during Ironman Australia with his family for a few years of his childhood in the late 1980s. At age 13, his family moved to the Gold Coast which exposed to him to a higher caliber triathlon, swimming, and surfing environment. His talent as a swimmer was good enough to warrant training with an Olympic coach. Swimming also led to surf lifesaving competitions and cross country running. There was a triathlon club that trained at the same time and at the same pool where he swam. McKenzie approached the team coach and asked to join their squad and was accepted. In the very first race he entered, a junior sprint; which lasted 15 minutes, he took first place.
McKenzie was picked to train at Australia's newly created national triathlon performance center. Throughout high school he trained alongside future champions Mirinda Carfrae, Emma Snowsill, and Annabel Luxford. In 1997, he reached his first world junior championships in duathlon and at 19 he placed third at the 2001 ITU World Junior Championships. The following year, with the Athens Olympic Games two years away, McKenzie was unsure his current pursuit of draft-legal, Olympic style racing was going to result in him qualifying the games. Under the advisement of training partner Michellie Jones, he and Craig Alexander moved into an apartment in Carlsbad, California and trained, focusing on non-draft style racing.
In his career leading up to the 2013 Ironman World Championship, McKenzie had won six previous Ironman competitions. He led the 2013 championship race up until mile 16 of the marathon before being passed by eventual champion Frederik Van Lierde but held on to finish second.
Personal life McKenzie was married to pro triathlete Amanda Balding from October 2010 to March 2013. Pro triathlete, Beth Gerdes gave birth to their daughter, Wynne, in May 2014. Luke and Beth have subsequently been married.
Notable results McKenzie's notable race results include: Results list Year Event Place2019Ironman 70.3 Philippines11th2019Ironman 70.3 VietnamDNF2019Challenge Melbourne5th2019Ironman 70.3 Taiwan3rd2018Ironman Western Australia4th2018Challenge Asia-Pacific Championship1st2018Ironman Australia2nd2018Challenge Wanaka6th2017Ironman 70.3 Los Cabos10th2017Ironman Wisconsin1st2017Ironman 70.3 Raleigh22nd2016Ironman World Championship37th2016Ironman Cairns6th2016Ironman 70.3 Vietnam3rd2016Ironman 70.3 Panama16th2016Ironman Western Australia1st2015Challenge Laguna PhuketDNF2015Ironman 70.3 Pucón4th2015Challenge Dubai18th2015Ironman 70.3 Subic Bay4th2015Ironman 70.3 St. George8th2015Ironman Cairns1st2015Ironman 70.3 Cebu6th2015Ironman 70.3 Sunshine Coast2nd2015Ironman World ChampionshipDNF2015Island House Invitational Triathlon7th2015Ironman Western Australia1st2014Ironman World Championship15th2014Challenge Roth10th2014Ironman Melbourne13th2013Ironman World Championship2nd2013Ironman 70.3 World Championship50th2013Hy-Vee 5150 Championships19th2013Philippines 51501st2013Ironman Cairns1st2013Coral Coast 51504th2013Ironman 70.3 St. George8th2013Ironman 70.3 Oceanside9th2013Ironman 70.3 Pucón7th2012Ironman Cozumel11th2012Ironman World Championship24th2012Ironman 70.3 Cozumel4th2012Ironman 70.3 Vinenam8th2012Ironman 70.3 Cairns2nd2012Ironman 70.3 Busselton4th2011Ironman World Championship9th2011Ironman 70.3 World Championship32nd2011Ironman Germany6th2011Ironman Texas13th2011Ironman 70.3 New Orleans13th2011Ironman 70.3 San Juan3rd2010Ironman 70.3 Cancún2nd2010Ironman 70.3 Lake Stevens5th2010Ironman Brazil1st2010Ironman 70.3 Busselton1st2010Ironman China1st2009Ironman World Championship15th2009Ironman Malaysia1st2009Ironman Japan1st2009Ironman Louisville2nd2009Ironman Florida7th2009Ironman 70.3 Western Australia1st2009Ironman 70.3 China2nd2009Ironman 70.3 Hawaii3rd2008Ironman World Championship29th2008Ironman 70.3 World Championship7th2008Ironman Japan1st2008Ironman Western Australia3rd2008Ironman Australia5th2008Ironman 70.3 Singapore5th2008Malibu Triathlon11th2008Wildflower Triathlon16th2007Ironman World Championship19th2007Ironman 70.3 Cancún3rd2007Ironman 70.3 Baja3rd2007Ironman 70.3 Lake Stevens3rd2007Ironman 70.3 Antwerp5th2007Ironman Coeur d’Alene6th2006Ironman World Championship54th2006Ironman Lake Placid10th2006Ironman 70.3 St. Croix7th2006Ironman 70.3 Florida4th2005Port Macquarie Half Ironman4th2005Ironman 70.3 Eagleman6th2005Ironman 70.3 Florida7th2005St. Croix Triathlon5th2005St. Anthony's Triathlon9th2004Ironman Western Australia3rd2004Wisconsin Half Ironman Racine2nd2004Musoka Challenge4th2004St. Anthony's Triathlon7th2004Escape From Alcatraz12th2004Noosa Triathlon15th2003Ironman 70.3 Racine1st2003Pacific Coast ITU Triathlon Pan American Cup9th2003Noosa Triathlon10th2003ITU Triathlon World Championships U/23 Championships9th
References
External links
ITU Results