Mandurah Triathlon Club’s Matt McKay is living proof that it’s never too late to chase greatness. A decade after first discovering triathlon, the Mandurah local has risen to become a formidable competitor on the local racing scene and the world stage.
At the 2025 Wollongong World Championships in October, Matt captured the Standard distance World Champion title in the 55–59 Age Category. Remarkably, he backed it up the very next day with a silver medal in the Sprint event.
Becoming World Champion stands as one of Matt’s proudest achievements, and the pinnacle of his triathlon career so far. While he thrives in the Standard distance, he’s also a fan of the draft-legal Sprint format, describing it as faster, more tactical, and far more social. One of his all-time favourite races is the Noosa Triathlon, in which he recently claimed first place in his age category for the third time.
Matt’s also no stranger to the WA State Series, having won Triathlete of the Year for his age group in seasons 2024/25, 2023/24, 2021/22, 2020/21, 2019/20, and 2018/19 – that’s 6 years of TOTY wins!
What makes Matt’s achievements even more impressive is everything else he juggles. He’s a husband, father of three, grandfather to eight, and the owner of Matthew McKay Earthmoving; it’s a thriving business he’s run for 25 years. Owning a business requires dedication and perseverance, which has transferred across to Matt’s sporting success. With his son recently joining the company, Matt’s been able to lighten the workload and dedicate more time to training.
Where it All Began
Before triathlon, Matt was still a very competitive athlete. He spent a decade as a high-level motocross (MX) rider until a snapped cruciate ligament forced a pivot. He transitioned into quad MX and then Enduro MX, disciplines that tested and proved his endurance long before he ever donned a tri-suit.
Ironically, it was cross-training for motocross, cycling and running to build stronger legs, that introduced Matt to triathlon. He joined the Mandurah Triathlon Club, entered a club race, and then took on his first major event: the IM 70.3 Mandurah in 2015. What began as a side activity quickly became a passion. A decade later, that “cross-training” has taken him all the way to World Champs.
Pre-Race Routine
Despite what you might expect, Matt doesn’t work with a dedicated triathlon coach. Over the years, he’s honed his training approach through trial and error, gradually learning how to strike the right balance of what his body can handle without burning out. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing, but this past year marked a turning point: Matt stayed healthy all season. He now consistently fits in around 14 hours of training each week. Consistency, he says, is king.
When it comes to race prep, Matt keeps things uncomplicated. Dinner is always Chicken Pad Thai, and breakfast is either Weet-Bix or oats. He swears by keeping it simple and sticking to what works. Sorry folks, no top secret formulas or magic potions here! Just hard work and knowing what works for his body.
Favourite Races and Plans for the Season Ahead
Matt has raced internationally several times, taking on the 70.3 World Championships in Nice in 2019 and Taupo in 2024. Nice proved to be a tough challenge, and he finished 77th. Taupo, on the other hand, was a standout performance where Matt placed 2nd in the world, making it one of his all-time career highlights.
Among his favourite events is the Noosa Triathlon, which he has completed seven times. At his most recent Noosa race, he competed alongside long-time friend and club mate Russell Harris. They came out of the water together after the swim, which they usually do, though Russell had decided to wear a swim skin for the first time. Matt ran through transition smoothly… Russell however, was still wrestling with his swim skin, which was still around his knees! whilst Matt breezed through transition, looking back over his shoulder, laughing to himself! It was one of those “you had to be there” moments of friendly rivalry. For Matt, it’s the banter and camaraderie that makes triathlon so fun.
Looking ahead, Matt has no plans to slow down. He will be competing in the TWA State Triathlon Series, with the first event scheduled for 30 November. His goal is to earn the title of Age Group Triathlete of the Year (for the 7th time!!) and then set his sights on the T100 on the Gold Coast in March.
