After spending the last three months in the United States, Shortis recently returned home after the final race was cancelled at the last minute.

“We were all ready to go at 6.30 in the morning with our goggles on and then they cancelled it on the start line because of bush fires,” he said.

“And it just so happened Port Mac was one of the next events I could have gone in leading up to my last one at Busselton.”

Shortis said the atmosphere at Port Macquarie was something which could not be seen anywhere else in the world.

“It’s just got a great feel to the place. It’s a bit of a crossroads in people come from Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sydney to compete so you get everyone from the east coast all in one place,” he said. “The crowd is great because they’re just so knowledgeable, but there is an expectation on you because people know you. Most probably think I’m lucky to still be walking.”

He admitted to feeling some sadness on realising his triathlon career was coming to an end, but said he would continue to be involved in the sport in some way.

“I’m doing some coaching at the moment and you don’t know what the future holds, but I’d like to stay involved.”

While some would say a half Ironman event is easier to compete in compared to the full event, Shortis said it wasn’t the case.

“As you get older it becomes more difficult to compete because you lack that sharpness and speed you need for the half,” he said. “I’ll get a few ‘haven’t you retired yet’ and ‘did you start a bit earlier than the rest’ sort of comments from the crowd, but that’s the Australian way. It’s all in good jest and I take it as a bit of a show of respect.”

With three events to go before he heads off into what he termed the “wide blue yonder” he only had one request.

“I hope we get some decent weather for a change because it always seems to rain for the Ironman events,” he laughed.