Search
shop

SAS Australia superstar Riana Crehan ACES triathlon by passing epic IRONMAN Cairns test

The V8 Supercars commentator and SAS Australia winner completed IRONMAN Cairns despite injury and illness ruining her prep
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Who dares wins isn’t just the motto of the SAS – it’s also the creed Riana Crehan lives by. 

So nobody should be too surprised that the V8 Supercars commentator beat the odds again to finish IRONMAN Cairns on Sunday. 

It was Riana’s first IRONMAN in four years, and her first since she and husband Will Davison welcomed son Dash into the world in 2023 following a challenging pregnancy. 

She started the day by exiting the water in 1:25:59 after the 2.4-mile swim to start the day, and then completed the 112-mile bike course in 6:37:09. If that wasn’t enough, Riana still had the small matter of a marathon (26.2 miles) to run and she did that in 4:43:35 for an overall finish time of 12:58:18.

Advertisement

Bed-ridden

Riana is no stranger to physical adversity, having gone days without sleep, crawled through mud and jumped out of helicopters on her way to winning reality TV show SAS Australia in 2022. 

So she was not about to let a back injury and a sinus infection which left her bed-ridden in the run-up to Cairns knock her off course.

Riana Crehan IRONMAN Cairns 2025 Bike
Riana Crehan in action during the bike leg of IRONMAN Cairns 2025 (Photo – Sportograf).

Posting on her Instagram, she wrote: “It’s hard to put into words how I feel about Sunday. I started this journey to do another Ironman, my first since having Dash about 12months ago. I was just wanting to do something for me after having a baby.

Rollercoaster of emotions

“Sunday was brutal. The conditions were just insane. An Ironman is truly an experience like no other. The best and worse day. Riding a rollercoaster of emotions while physically pushing your body to limits many don’t ever find.”

Crehan’s prep could hardly have gone worse but she is clearly no quitter and was determined to make it to Cairns – especially as this was her third attempt at doing another IRONMAN after being forced to cancel previous attempts to compete at Busselton and Port Macquarie.

Advertisement

“A scary time”

“I got fitter then ever and 3 weeks out from Ironman Busso crashed my bike,” she explained. “Smashed collarbone and broken hand later. 
 
“Attempt number 2. Port Mac. I was back into training when mum got sick. Really sick. A scary time for our family that we are still going through. I wasn’t mentally in a place to keep on track so it was off the table again. 
 
“Attempt number 3. Cairns. After thinking we were back on track my back decided enough was enough. No cycling for 5-6 weeks, ease up on running and be careful swimming. Here we go again… Not ideal 8 weeks out. 

“I was in bed with a sinus infection the day before we left for Cairns, an emergency trip to the doctors to try anything possible to feel better. I couldn’t even walk let alone think of what was ahead of me. 
 
“Then one last plot twist, my bike had a mechanical issue Saturday morning, just before needing to drop it to transition. Probably from all of the travel in the last few weeks.

“To cross that finish line with Will and Dash and our friends Tannie and Chris, to share that moment is something I will cherish forever. 
 
“Thank you to everyone who has cheered, messaged, supported me. The love is truly overwhelming.”

Paul Brown
Written by
Paul Brown
Discover more
TRI247 podcast p/b Challenge Family episode 2
Go behind the scenes at Challenge Roth with the latest episode of the TRI247 podcast
Cadomotus Chronos triathlon cycling shoes
The triathlon cycling shoe that promises a 10-watt saving: Cadomotus Chronos Aero triathlon cycling shoes review
Challenge Family Roth
Five things you need to know about the Challenge Roth bike course
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
latest News
Lisa Tertsch Cassandre Beaugrand Beth Potter Hamburg WTCS 2024 Photo credit: Tommy Zaferes / World Triathlon
WTCS Hamburg 2025: Start time, preview and how to watch live
IRONMAN CEO Scott DeRue Women For Tri 2024
‘The more co-operation the better’ – Challenge Roth chief welcomes IRONMAN CEO’s visit
joe-skipper-kona-2022-bike
Joe Skipper says his Challenge Roth experience proves just how high the bar now is in triathlon
Anne Haug wins Challenge Roth 2024 [Photo credit: Simon Fischer | Challenge Roth]
Anne Haug on inspiration ahead of comeback, sub-eight and no intention of retiring just yet
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
CHAOS as Lena Meissner wins amazing sprint finish to become 70.3 European Champion and is then DEMOTED
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...