Rob Battocchio is the man behind the major event which has driven locals to challenge themselves for 25 years. Photo: Keeli Royle.
The MMJ Aquathon is celebrating a special milestone on Australia Day, marking 25 years of the swim-run race, but for the event’s founder it’s not the finishing times that stand out, it’s the stories.
For the past quarter of a century Rob Battocchio has been at the helm of one of the Illawarra’s most iconic community fitness events.
As an accomplished athlete, Rob has been involved in his fair share of races from a young age, whether on foot, in the water, with a bike or a paddleboard.
“I grew up in Nippers, so would have competed from 12 onwards,” Rob said.
“My first ever event was an aquathon and then somebody said, “Well, you can swim, you can run, how about you ditch the club board and you get a bike.
“By 16 I did triathlons and made the state level and national level within the next year or two.”
He found success competing and representing on both national and international stages.
“I did the Canberra Marathon and got first Australian and that was probably a marquee one.
“I’ve been lucky enough to race overseas,” he said. “I actually won the Venice aquathon, which is kind of cool.”
But despite travelling the world, he couldn’t pass up the chance to do something special in his own backyard.
“There were a few of these events; they used to be called biathlons, and then the opportunity arose where we had one in Wollongong and then they disappeared,” Rob said. “And somebody just said to me, ‘Why don’t you put on an event; I’ll help you out and see what you can do.'”
More than 25 years later, the aquathon has become an Australia Day staple which has attracted high-performing competitors to Wollongong.
“We’ve had international athletes, but also youth that have come through on their way up and got talent scouted at this event and they’ve gone on to the Olympics.”
While it can be a chance for elite athletes to challenge themselves, the aquathon is also an important event for families and the local community.
“What’s really good is it’s generational, so you’ll get grandparents potentially, you’ll get all the way through the generations and you’ll get the nippers.”
“I believe it’s really become a community day, for whatever that means for that individual – bring their family, bring themselves, invite a mate from interstate.”
Generations have participated in the annual event, with Rob’s kids also now involved. Photo: Supplied.
The people that have pushed themselves and been involved over the past two and a half decades continue to inspire Rob, and motivate him to keep going.
“We had a fellow last year who is a double amputee and did the aquathon,” he said. “We had a lady that came down who two years ago they had breast cancer and this was her comeback event.
“Forget me, I just like hearing the stories and how somehow the event has helped somebody achieve a goal they didn’t think was achievable.”
With the long, short, mini and kids aquathon categories, as well as the fun run, the unique one-day event draws people from all walks of life.
“It doesn’t matter what size, background or age, I think our oldest aquathoner last year was 77 and our fun runner was 81.
“There was an older lady whose son had brought her out of the nursing home to do it for the day. That was special.”
Parents can also tag along to help children under 10 years old.
“You see a lot of kids made to feel that they can do it.
“If I can help a child get through the course, because their mum and dad or older sibling is in the water with them, you just see their eyes beaming.”
It’s something Rob has experienced firsthand, when his daughter decided to do it on a whim.
“One year with my daughter, I got in and did the swim with her. She was seven; she wasn’t really at swim stage, and I was already down the water’s edge and jumped in.
“And my son, he’s seven, but he’ll make a course on his own now.”
After struggling through COVID, last year the aquathon broke attendance records with more than 2200 participants getting involved.
Now it’s back for a special 25th time, with the community encouraged to get involved no matter their level, step out of their comfort zone and take on the challenge.
“We have individuals, we have tag teams, we have a fun run, and there’s people fundraising for Black Dog Institute, so for some people that’s another incentive to say, ‘I’m doing this to support mental health research’.
“It’s about what can they achieve personally; it might be on their fitness journey, a weight loss journey, mental health journey; so I actually think more than ever, it’s a lot of people just saying, ‘I’m doing this for me, just to see that if I can do it’.
The MMJ Aquathon is on 26 January at Belmore Basin, starting with the fun run at 8 am.
Participants can register through the aquathon website or even on the day of the event at the harbour.
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