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Every athlete wants to improve, become faster, more motivated and many constantly ask themselves ‘Am I training too much or too little?. Multisport Consultants experience, teamed with proven triathlon training programs provide athletes expert guidance whilst achieving their goals, building confidence with personalised and comprehensive principles and methods.

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Nick Croft

More than 35 years of experience in the sport of triathlon

Nick Croft Triathlon Career

Nick Croft Triathlon experience spans more than 35 years as a professional athlete, accomplished age-group competitor and respected coach. As head coach at Multisport Consultants, Nick draws on extensive racing knowledge to help athletes improve their training, confidence and performance.

Throughout his racing career, Nick achieved an Ironman personal best of 8 hours 26 minutes. In addition, he recorded 8 hours 48 minutes at Ironman Lanzarote, widely regarded as one of the world’s most challenging Ironman events.

Nick also contributed regular columns to publications including Australian Triathlete, Runner’s World Australia and Triathlon Sports Magazine. Furthermore, his knowledge of the sport led to commentary roles at major triathlon events, both live and on international television broadcasts.

Most athletes coached through Multisport Consultants are amateur age-group competitors. However, Nick Croft has also coached a successful mix of professional athletes.

His athletes compete across Ironman, half-Ironman, Olympic-distance and sprint-distance events. At any given time, the squad also includes athletes preparing for their first season of triathlon.

Nick Croft Triathlon Qualifications and Awards

  • Accredited triathlon and swim coach
  • Former Triathlon Australia Queensland State Development Officer
  • 2005 Triathlon Australia Ironman Coach of the Year

For more information about the sport’s national governing body, visit AusTriathlon.

Nick Croft - winner of Noosa Triathlon

Early Nick Croft Triathlon Achievements

Nick competed in his first triathlon on Australia’s Gold Coast in 1984 at 17 years of age. The race consisted of a 400-metre swim, 12-kilometre bike leg and four-kilometre run.

Although it was a small club event, Nick won overall. As a result, his first experience of triathlon became especially memorable.

In March 1985, he entered his first Olympic-distance event at Mooloolaba on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Nick won in 1 hour 58 minutes, finishing three minutes ahead of the athlete who had placed third at the 1984 Noosa Triathlon.

Later that year, Nick won the Noosa Triathlon in a record time. Consequently, the performance confirmed that his early success was no fluke.

By the end of the 1985–86 season, he had accumulated numerous victories. Most notably, his win at the Australian Long Course Championships became the standout achievement of his career to that point.

Becoming One of Australia’s Leading Triathletes

By the late 1980s, Nick had established himself as one of Australia’s leading triathletes. During this period, he regularly traded victories with athletes including Brad Beven, Stephen Foster, Greg Welch and Greg Stewart.

The international circuit began calling in 1991. Between 1991 and 1995, Nick therefore spent part of each season racing in France and throughout Europe.

In 1991, he won the ITU World Cup race in Beijing after a strong Australian season. That same year, Nick won the Australian Triathlon Series and received the Australian Triathlete of the Year title.

Additionally, he finished well in the ITU World Cup standings and captained the Australian men’s team at the World Championships.

Success on the European Triathlon Circuit

In 1992, Nick placed fifth at the prestigious Nice International Triathlon in France. At the time, it was the highest placing by an Australian at the event since Greg Stewart’s fifth place in 1987.

By the end of the season, Nick had won another four events. As a result, he had established himself as one of Australia’s strongest performers in Europe.

Nick Croft Triathlon and Ironman Racing

Another successful European season followed in 1993. During that year, Nick continued his strong form and made his Ironman debut at Europe’s oldest Ironman event in Almere, Holland.

He finished in 8 hours 26 minutes. At the time, this was the fastest Ironman debut by an Australian athlete.

The result encouraged Nick to focus more closely on long-distance events. Six months later, another strong performance at Ironman Lanzarote confirmed his potential over the Ironman distance.

Nick’s results subsequently earned him a place at the 1994 Ironman World Championship in Hawaii. He exited the swim in third position and then moved into second place on the bike.

Unfortunately, problems with a newly sponsored bike ended his race. Despite the disappointment, Nick experienced the excitement of leading the event and sharing turns at the front with eventual winner Greg Welch.

During this period, gastrointestinal problems began affecting his health. Symptoms first appeared in 1992, intensified during 1993 and became increasingly difficult to manage.

Eventually, a major illness in 1995 brought his professional athletic career to an end.

Nick Croft – Professional Triathlete, 1988–1995

  • Competed in more than 130 triathlons between 1985 and 1995
  • Achieved 35 outright victories
  • Recorded 30 additional podium finishes

Career Results: 1993–1995

  • 1995: Based in France and raced for Salon de Provence
  • Third place, Triathlon de Valence
  • Professional triathlon career ended following the event because of illness
  • 1994: 15th, ITU World Long Course Championships, Nice, France
  • First, Triathlon d’Avignon, France
  • Fourth, Ironman Lanzarote, Spain – 8 hours 48 minutes
  • 1993: Fourth, Almere Ironman, Holland – 8 hours 26 minutes
  • Fastest Ironman debut by an Australian at the time
  • First, Triathlon International du Jura, France
  • First, Triathlon de Bessèges, France
  • Fifth, Nice International Triathlon
  • Second, French Long-Distance Championships
  • Third, Australian Long Course Championships

Career Results: 1991–1992

  • 1992: First, Triathlon de Corse, France
  • Captain, Australian World Championship team, Muskoka, Canada
  • First, Triathlon d’Ancone, France
  • Third, ITU World Cup, Moscow
  • Second, Triathlon International Grenoble–Alpe d’Huez
  • Fifth, Nice International Triathlon
  • Second, Australian Long Course Championships
  • First, Sri Chinmoy Triathlon, Canberra
  • First, Geelong National Tour race
  • 1991: Captain, Australian World Championship team
  • First, Beijing ITU World Cup, China
  • Winner, Australian Triathlon Series
  • Australian Triathlete of the Year
  • 11th, ITU World Cup Series

Career Results: 1985–1990

  • 1990: Winner of six events
  • Second, Noosa Triathlon
  • 1989: Selected for the 1990 Commonwealth Games Triathlon Team, Auckland, New Zealand
  • Second, Noosa Triathlon
  • Member of the first official Australian team at the inaugural ITU World Triathlon Championships, Avignon, France
  • Second, Australian Long Course Championships, Canberra
  • Winner of six events
  • 1985–1988: Winner of 20 events
  • Two-time Queensland Triathlon Champion
  • South Australian Champion
  • Second, Victorian Championships
  • Second, New South Wales Championships
  • 1986 Australian Long Course Champion
  • Two-time Noosa Triathlon Champion

Improve Your Triathlon Performance

Would you like to improve your triathlon experience? Discover how Multisport Consultants can help improve your race splits with a structured triathlon training program.

Alternatively, explore our personalised triathlon training programs or contact Multisport Consultants for individual coaching support.

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Nick Croft Triathlon: Overcoming Serious Illness

In 1995, at 27 years of age, Nick faced a serious illness while completing his fourth season of professional racing in France.

He became so weak that he struggled to get out of bed. At the same time, severe diarrhoea, bleeding and significant weight loss placed his health and life at risk.

The illness was initially diagnosed in France as infectious colitis. Nick spent eight weeks in hospital, including five days in intensive care. During this period, his weight dropped from 72 kilograms to 58 kilograms.

Because he could not eat normally, doctors fed him through a central line in his neck. Once he became strong enough to travel, Nick returned to Australia.

However, his symptoms soon returned. Following another hospital admission, Australian doctors diagnosed him with ulcerative colitis.

Living With Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a form of inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation in the lining of the colon.

Symptoms can range from mild to severe. For example, they may include persistent diarrhoea, abdominal pain, cramping, bleeding, fever, weight loss and irritation affecting the skin or eyes.

The disease is not contagious. Depending on its severity, doctors may treat it with anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive medication. These treatments can include corticosteroids such as prednisone.

Nevertheless, surgery may become necessary when medication can no longer control the symptoms.

For Nick, the physical pain and mental strain were devastating. His professional triathlon career had ended just as he had begun planning another full season of racing.

Before becoming seriously ill, Nick had competed in more than 130 triathlons. Across those events, he recorded 35 wins and 30 additional podium finishes.

Nick Croft Overcoming Illness

Surgery and Recovery

Nick continued to experience recurring illness between 1995 and 1999. Periods of relatively stable health were repeatedly interrupted by severe flare-ups.

By April 1999, he had taken prednisone for five consecutive months. Despite the large dosage, the treatment had little effect.

Doctors therefore admitted Nick to the Royal Brisbane Hospital and discussed surgery for the first time. Although the prospect was frightening, other treatments had failed to control the disease.

In July 1999, surgeons removed Nick’s large intestine during a four-hour operation. Afterwards, he lived with a temporary ileostomy for four months.

A second operation followed in November 1999. During that procedure, surgeons used part of his small intestine to form an internal pouch designed to perform some of the functions of the removed large intestine.

Returning to Triathlon

Following surgery, Nick gradually returned to a healthy weight of approximately 73 kilograms. He also resumed swimming, cycling and running.

In 2002, Nick returned to competition as an age-group athlete at the Cairns Half Ironman. He completed the event in 4 hours 35 minutes.

Ten weeks later, he won his age group at the Forster Half Ironman. Moreover, his time of 4 hours 20 minutes placed him 13th overall from approximately 900 competitors.

These results showed that Nick could compete successfully again while continuing to protect his health.

From Professional Athlete to Triathlon Coach

Nick started coaching age-group athletes at the beginning of the 1995–96 season.

The transition from professional racing was challenging. However, once his health became more stable, he discovered that he genuinely enjoyed helping other athletes.

Rather than leave triathlon behind, Nick chose to remain closely involved with the sport that had played such an important role in his life.

Over time, the Nick Croft Triathlon journey evolved from elite competition into coaching, athlete development, event commentary and training-program design.

Building Multisport Consultants

Nick continued coaching athletes and writing personalised training programs both online and through direct correspondence.

Additionally, he organised triathlon training camps in Noosa, provided event commentary and participated in the Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon school-visit program.

He also helped organise the Life Stream Triathlon Festival in Mackay, North Queensland.

Together, these activities allowed Nick to share his racing experience while helping athletes of different ages and abilities enjoy the sport.

A New Perspective on Health and Fitness

Nick’s illness changed his understanding of health, training and competition.

During his professional career, he had been extremely fit. However, his underlying health was steadily deteriorating.

Consequently, the experience taught him that fitness and health are not always the same thing.

Nick remains grateful to members of the triathlon community who supported him during his illness and recovery. Hundreds of messages, emails and cards helped him maintain a positive outlook during an extremely difficult period.

Furthermore, he received strong support from the local Noosa community.

Today, Nick hopes his experience can help other people living with inflammatory bowel disease. His journey demonstrates that serious illness can change a person’s direction without ending their connection to sport.

Nick Croft Triathlon Coaching Today

As head coach of Multisport Consultants, Nick now uses decades of competition and coaching experience to guide athletes towards their goals.

His practical knowledge covers sprint, Olympic-distance, long-course and Ironman racing. Therefore, he understands the needs of experienced competitors as well as athletes entering their first triathlon.

The Nick Croft Triathlon story combines elite racing, resilience, recovery and a long-term commitment to helping others enjoy endurance sport.

Start Your Triathlon Training

Improve your preparation with a structured triathlon training program from Multisport Consultants.

Alternatively, view our personalised training programs or contact the Multisport Consultants team.

Get in Touch

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