Dean Paul MercerOAM (24 November 1969 – 28 August 2017) was an Australian sportsman who competed in ironman events.[1][2]
Career
Mercer was born in Bulli and raised in Thirroul, both suburbs of Wollongong.[3] Early in his career, Mercer and his brother Darren were coached by their father, John.[4] Mercer became a professional ironman at 15 and competed from 1987 to 2010. He won the Australian open ironman titles in 1989 and 1995,[2] and five New South Wales championships. In 1997 he won the World Oceanman series.[2] He competed in his last Coolangatta Gold aged 40.[5]
At the time of his death Mercer was director of surf sports, and nippers coach, at Kurrawa Surf Club at Broadbeach, Queensland a position he held since October 2014.[5][7]
^Condon, Matt (9 October 1988). "Ironmen fight for top honour". The Sun-Herald. John Mercer, father and coach of the Mercer brothers...Undoubtedly the pressure will be on 20-year-old Darren Mercer, of Thirroul, south of Sydney, to defend his title. He and brother Dean, 18, have trained harder than ever.
^Tobin, Glenn (20 April 1998). "Mercer Marries His Sweetheart". The Illawarra Mercury. Ironman champion Dean Mercer has always ridden on the crest of a winning wave and on Saturday it peaked beautifully when he married long-time sweetheart Kaylene Costello.
^Brown, Jenny (5 May 2003). "Dean marries his queen Reen". Woman's Day.