Two-time ironman world champion and Olympic hopeful Chris McCormack returns to Australia this week after an extended stay in the US. He will then head up to Far North Queensland for final preparations in an attempt to defend his Cairns' crown over the full Ironman distance.
 
Season 2012 has seen McCormack hell bent on making the Australian Olympic team but while the Australian selectors make up their minds about the line-up of the men’s team, he is taking a short break from the ITU circuit to honour his commitment to his fans in the Cairns region.
 
Throughout his career he has never done anything by half and at 39 years old that isn’t about to change because this year Queensland triathlon fans will bear witness to a performance like no other from Cronulla’s favourite son as he faces one of his toughest assignments.
 
Despite being in great shape to race Olympic distance, McCormack is about to push the envelope again, heading north to punish himself over the Ironman distance on limited preparation taking a trip into a space he’s never been before on 3 June.
 
“I was hoping to have an eight week window from ITU Sydney to train for Cairns, but the addition of San Diego to the Olympic selection criteria dead set threw a spanner in the works.”

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With the Olympics in August and the Ironman World Championship in October McCormack has decided to keep all this options open.
 
“I will be racing the Ironman regardless of Olympic selection but to be honest it won’t be like last year.”
 
“I will openly say that this is the most "under-prepared" I have ever been in an Ironman race. This was not through choice, but was forced upon me by changes to the Olympic selection criteria that left me in this position.”
 
“Cairns offers me the ability to stamp my ticket to Kona and give me options for the back end of the year. I am not committed to Kona right now, but giving me that option is something that is very important.”

McCormack realises he is expecting a lot from his body and he will be drawing on every bit of his experience and years of training to get him through the day.
 
“I know the guys will be arriving in Cairns prepared and ready to race. I will play for as long as I can that is for sure. Maybe things might fall my way and I can sneak a nice win. That would be beautiful,” he said.