Kye Taylor
23
YEARS OLD
QLD
BURLEIGH HEADS MOWBRAY PARK SLSC
19th
2024/2025 SERIES
board
STRENGTH
Bio
23-year-old Kye Taylor hails from Newcastle and has been involved with surf lifesaving since a nipper at age 5. Since then, has represented his state and claimed multiple individual state and national titles, and has made the move to Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast to pursue his surf sport’s dream. Since then, Taylor wowed the elite Ironman world as he claimed the inaugural Next Gen competition. Taylor is a fulltime rescue crew officer with LifeFlight, and provide emergency care for communities across Queensland, and in his spare time, loves watching NRL, AFL, and American football.
Kye, how old were you when youstarted surf lifesaving and why?
4 years old. My pop was the president of the surf club and my Mum, uncles, and aunties all did nippers so it was natural they signed me up to continue the legacy.
Who was your hero growing up in and out of surf lifesaving?
Ky Hurst. I grew up watching him win 10 Australian swim titles and 4 IronMan titles. The way he so effortlessly glided through the ocean and how humble he always was.
What is the best piece of advice that you have ever been given?
“Get comfortable being uncomfortable.”
Your advice for aspiring Shaw and Partners Iron Athletes?
Keep showing up I never won anything until I was 15 years old, results won’t always happen at a young age but as you grow and get stronger through consistent training the hard work will always pay off.
What do you think about on the start line?
“What’s the order again?”
What do you think about during a race?
“Whose feet can I get on?”
Kye, what has been a high and low in your IronMan journey?
High: My first time qualifying for the series through the Next Gen. It was my first time qualifying for something of that stature and made my childhood dream come true.
Low: I tore my ACL after winning my first Aussie title. I was hoping to build on the result but unfortunately it wasn’t to be as I injured my knee playing rugby league.
Do you have any race superstitions?
Chicken Parmi.