Student Overcomes Spinal Surgery to Make IRONMAN 70.3 Debut in Melbourne

At just 19 years old, Sydney student Jennah Poon is about to tick off a major milestone toward a goal that once seemed unimaginable just a few years ago.

Next Sunday, she'll tackle the Qatar Airways IRONMAN 70.3 Melbourne, comprised of a 1.9km swim, 90km bike ride, and 21.1km run - a steppingstone towards one day completing a full distance IRONMAN triathlon.

Jennah's love for triathlon began early. She grew up in a swim squad, knew how to ride a bike, and regularly went on runs with her mum. From the age of nine she eagerly took part in triathlon events, experiences that sparked a passion for sport and adventure.

She would go on to complete multiple triathlons across several years until January 2020 when everything came crashing to a halt, with Jennah forced to undergo major spinal surgery to correct scoliosis, a procedure that left her with two rods and five screws in her back.

"In the short term, recovery was hard and painful, especially the two weeks in hospital having to regain strength and struggling to walk without fainting, finding it hard especially up and down stairs. I remember wanting to stay in my hospital room when the physio would come because it was so painful to try and walk and my legs felt like they were going to break," said Jennah.

The timing couldn't have been worse. Just as she was beginning to recover, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, forcing her into isolation. Bed-bound and lacking motivation, Jennah's fitness and wellbeing plummeted.

"I grew into a couch potato and over the next few years I'd find myself having problems in my relationship with exercise and food. No physical activity for a year had a massive impact on my life. There was no way I would be doing any sports let alone a triathlon," said Jennah.

"I lost a lot of motivation and lacked a sense of purpose. Surgery took a big toll on my mental health as I felt hopeless and somewhat like a burden to others."

Despite the challenges, Jennah slowly rebuilt her strength and confidence. After surgery she was determined to get back into triathlons - thinking it would give her a sense of determination and motivation once again. Scrolling through social media one day, she came across IRONMAN - a 226km triathlon and an idea that lit a fire within her.

"I remember searching it up on the internet and thinking people who did IRONMANs were absolutely amazing and crazy, so at the beginning of 2021 - one year post surgery - I put doing an IRONMAN on my bucket list for the future," said Jennah.

In the years that followed, Jennah gradually returned to sport, competing in shorter triathlons and participating in the swimming leg of the NSW All Schools Relay Triathlon in Year 10.

"I slowly grew back the love I had for the sport," she said. "At the beginning of this year, for some reason a lot of influencers I followed had begun to train for triathlons or had done IRONMANs - and so it got me thinking deeply again. I like to think that I have a great sense of determination and drive, and I like to have something I'm working towards."

After turning 18 at the end of 2024, Jennah realised she was finally eligible to race an IRONMAN 70.3 - half the distance of an IRONMAN triathlon. Encouraged by her family and inspired by athletes she followed online, she began to dream again.

"I looked up races in Australia and found that IRONMAN 70.3 Melbourne gave me enough time to train and looked like a fantastic course," she said. "I came to the realisation that it was something I wanted to do, and something that I had on my bucket list for four years. There was no better time than the present and so I full sent it and signed up."

Now studying Exercise Physiology at university with aspirations to pursue a Master's in Physiotherapy, Jennah has spent the past six months balancing her studies, part-time work, and a rigorous training schedule. Her determination has been unwavering, even when motivation waned.

"There were times where motivation was so low I just had to rely on my determination to get through the session," she said. "The thing that kept me going was imagining myself crossing that finish line."

Jennah credits her spinal surgery not only with reshaping her physical journey, but also with inspiring her academic and personal path.

"Spinal surgery really grew my love for the body, movement and health, and inspired my studies," she said. "I'm reminded that our bodies are incredible and can do things we couldn't imagine."

A personal mantra has also helped her stay focused through the toughest moments.

"Something I constantly tell myself is to 'be bothered'," she said. "I sometimes tend to be lazy and not want to do things because it's too hard or I'm too comfortable, but the concept of 'being bothered' reminds me that opportunities come and go and they aren't going to wait for us. The door is there for us to open but we need to open that door and take that leap before it goes away. I try to make the most of life and the opportunities that come my way."

As race day approaches, Jennah is filled with anticipation and gratitude. She also hopes her story will inspire others - especially young people facing setbacks or struggling with self-doubt - to believe in their potential.

"Setbacks are temporary - there is always light at the end of the tunnel," she said. "No goal is too big when your heart is in the right place. If you think and believe that you can attain your goal, you will."

The Qatar Airways IRONMAN 70.3 Melbourne is supported by the Victorian Government.