Photos courtesy of USM Events

Ironman recently announced the acquisition of USM Events, Australia’s leading event management company and the owner of iconic multisport festivals in Geelong, Noosa, Mooloolaba, and Cairns. USM is also the producer of the Dextro Energy Triathlon in Sydney.

The gallery above offers some highlights from the past year of racing in these beautiful venues, where Ironman world champions like Craig Alexander, Chris MacCormack, Mirinda Carfrae, and Melissa Rollison have all cut their teeth. In short-course as well, Australia has produced such fine athletes as Emma Snowsill, Emma Moffatt, Courtney Atkinson, and Brendon Sexton, to name a few.

If you’ve read Chris MacCormack’s memoir, “I’m Here to Win,” or have followed the careers of triathlon legends like Mark Allen and Dave Scott, you know that Australia is as important a geographical touchstone for triathlon as San Diego or Kona. Since 1983, the triathlon in Noosa has been attracting and building the kind of talent we see flying down Ali’i drive years later. Likewise, Mooloolaba and Syndey have been key stopping points for Olympic-distance triathlon. It was in Sydney in 2000 where the world first watched Canadian Simon Whitfield and Swiss Brigitte McMahon take the first Olympic gold medals in our sport.

So make yourself a Vegemite sandwich, browse the gallery, and tell us in the comments about your favorite Australian moment, events, and people.