In March, Rebound Club athletes took to the Sunshine Coast for Australia’s second largest triathlon, Mooloolaba Triathlon (or ‘Moo Tri’).
After a 12-week training campaign, over 40 first-timers and seasoned athletes rallied together to compete across sprint and standard distance events. All in a bid to answer one simple question, “Do I have what it takes?”
For Caitlin, having what it takes means crossing the finish line for her very first sprint triathlon:
Finishing my first sprint triathlon gave me the confidence to keep going when things are tough. My goal was to simply finish and have fun, which I definitely achieved. But, what stood out to me was how prepared and supported I felt on race day. The training campaign was very well structured and approachable. It challenged me, but my confidence was built week by week as I achieved my goals along the way. I learnt so much about pacing, nutrition and race preparation in a way that I couldn’t do by myself, and found motivation in training alongside others. It felt like the work was going to pay off and, no matter how I did, I would have a strong community around me.
For Lindelle, it means not letting a recurring injury hold her back from crossing the blue carpet. That started with a plan:
The coaching team is brilliant. Going into the race they knew about my ongoing knee and ITB troubles and ensured I had a plan to ensure I was okay post race. I have learnt so many ways to improve my endurance, technique and overall performance. While the run didn’t exactly go my way due to previous injury, I was really happy with my race. The swim was a challenge for sure, this was something that took me longer to improve and it was daunting going in, however it ended up being a leg I was really proud of and felt solid coming out of the water. The training campaign also helped me improve because I could make the sessions work for me. I like to do some training on my own and other sessions with Rebound. I felt so inspired watching the rest of Rebound also achieve their goals that I ended up signing up for my next triathlon that night.
While competitors were showing up for themselves on course, the Rebound community rallied behind them on the sidelines. A show of support that for Rebound spectator and member, Kirra, was pretty clear on course:
There's nothing quite like race day, even from the sidelines. We all train together, even if we're chasing different goals, so when it's time to race, showing up for each other is part of what makes this community so special. You can see the difference a familiar face or a loud cheer makes, especially in the last leg when people are running on empty. That's when we cheer the loudest, to remind our friends and fellow triathletes that they're not doing it alone. It helps fuel the fire in their belly to get them to the finish line.
Did you know that smiling, even when you don’t feel particularly happy, can lower your heart rate, reduce stress hormones, raise your pain tolerance, and other cool stuff? All the more reason to train with a community of like-minded people.
For Kent Ohori, Coach and Founder of Rebound, this fan favourite event is also an important reminder of what the club’s about:
Moo Tri is always one of our favourite weekends on the race calendar. With both sprint and standard distance options, it's the perfect event for everyone-from first-time triathletes taking on a new challenge to experienced athletes chasing a personal best (PB). For the first time ever, our IRONMAN Cairns crew also used the event as a race hit-out before heading into their biggest block of training.
More than anything, the weekend was a reminder of what Rebound is all about. Watching first-timers, PB chasers and seasoned athletes cheering each other on showed that this community has become so much bigger than training. The smiles from start to finish said it all. It's a place where people feel like they belong, back themselves, and discover they're capable of more than they thought.
We pride ourselves on meeting athletes where they are in their journey. Whether someone is crossing the line after their first sprint triathlon or chasing a new benchmark in the standard distance, the feeling of reaching the finish line is just as meaningful. Every finish line deserves to be celebrated because every athlete has overcome their own unique challenges to get there.
Seeing every athlete achieve something they were proud of is why we do what we do, and the entire Rebound team couldn't be prouder of everyone who took part.
Smiles that shine brighter than the Sunshine State sun on a hot day? That’s community. And there’s nothing quite like it.
Where are we heading next?
- IRONMAN 70.3 Sunshine Coast, 13 September, 2026
- Bridge2Brisbane, 13 September, 2026
- Noosa Triathlon, 1 November 2026
- IRONMAN WA, 06 December 2026
If training with a side of laughs and warm fuzzy feelings sounds right up your alley, send us a message - hello@reboundclub.com.au. We’d love to be a part of your journey.
