Ms Karla Gilbert OAM

From the mid-90s to the early 2000s Karla was near unbeatable in the sport of surf life saving, stringing together several national and world championship titles in her trademark white swimsuit.

She won back to back world Ironwoman championships (2000 and 2002), seven consecutive Ironwoman series wins (1996-2002), sixteen Australian championships, seven Queensland titles and numerous other championship events.

Having won many state and national junior championships, Karla won at her first attempt in a professional Ironwoman event - which was also the first ever professional Ironwoman race in Australia in 1990. She was just 15 years of age and competed against older more experienced and established Ironwomen.

Now a mother of two girls, Karla returned to competition in the sport of standup paddle boarding and won the Australian title in 2012 and continues to compete internationally.