Kendrick Louis

30

YEARS OLD

NSW

MANLY LSC

1st

2019/2020 SERIES

swim

STRENGTH

Stats

Name: Kendrick Louis (Kenj)
Competitive club: Manly LSC
Original Club: Collaroy SLSC
Best round of 2019/20: Bulli Round 1, 2nd
Best series finish: 1st Place in 2019/20 Iron Series
Aussie Titles Results: 2019 Taplin Relay - 2nd, 2018 Ironman - 1st, 2017 Board Relay - 1st

Bio

After chasing his dream of winning a series for 10 years, Kendrick Louis became the 2019/20 Nutri-Grain IronMan Series Champion and is the reigning champion going into the 2020/21 series. Growing up on the Northern beaches of Sydney and already a strong pool swimmer, Kendrick started in Nippers as a 11-year-old at Collaroy surf lifesaving club where his passion for surf lifesaving and the sport kicked off. Since then, the Ironman champion has won multiple Australian Surf Life Saving titles including a coveted Aussie Ironman Gold medal and has represented Australia on the world stage as part of the Australian Lifesaving Team, as well as being named SLSA’s Athlete of the Year in 2018. Away from the sport, Kendrick is also a proud business owner and runs his own media agency with his younger brother called Louis Media Group.
Kendrick, how old were you when youstarted surf lifesaving and why?

Started Nippers at 11, was heavily focused on pool swimming and some mates encouraged me to come down to Collaroy and get involved. Loved the atmosphere of being able to be around friends in the beach environment and all started from there.

Who was your hero growing up in and out of surf lifesaving?

Coming from a pool swimming background I always looked up to Ky Hurst given his history and the way he transformed the sport of Ironman racing with his swim legs.

Outside of surf I really get inspired by those who have come from entrepreneurial backgrounds and have built, and continue to build their businesses on really strong foundations. Businesspeople such as Justin Hemmes and Elon Musk who have succeeded in very different fields provide me a lot of drive within my own business and day to day life.

What is the best piece of advice that you have ever been given?

Be organised, not busy!

Your advice for aspiring Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain athletes?

Don’t give up! It took me 10 years of racing as part of the Nutri-Grain Series to win my first title. There was plenty of points along the way thoughts creep in about focusing on work or other aspects of life, but winning a Series was a goal of mine I really wanted to achieve and stoked I was able to tick it off the list!

What do you think about during a race?

Taking each step as it comes and doing the small things right to put myself in best situations.

Kendrick, what has been a high and low in your IronMan journey?

High: Winning first IronMan series races at Surfers Paradise a number of years ago. It was an enduro race and I was sitting dead last and managed to work my way through the field and win! Winning Open Ironman Title in WA was a highlight also.

Low: Injuring my knee in the 2012 IronMan Series over in Perth, which put me out for a long time.

Do you have any race day superstitions?

Not really, all race days are different and I prefer to listen to my body rather than stress over needing to prepare in certain ways. Prefer to let each race day come as it is and happen organically.

What is your go-to meal before a carnival?

Anything food I can get down is good! Purely due to nerves I’m not much of an eater before racing but always ready for a coffee.