As a speaker
Belinda Halloran is one of the rising stars of the international Ironman Triathlon circuit. Regarded as one of Australia's toughest Triathletes, Belinda has competed professionally throughout the world since 1998.
The Ironman Triathlon is regarded as the hardest one-day endurance event in the world, with competitors required to swim 3.8 km, ride 180 km and then run a 42.2 km marathon. Belinda burst onto the Ironman scene in 2000 when she took third at Ironman South Africa, and went on to win her first international championship at Ironman Malaysia in 2001. This victory was remarkable not only by the fact that Belinda was only 24 years old at the time, but also in that she beat World Champion, Natascha Baddman of Switzerland, who hadn't been beaten in Ironman for three years prior.
- Belinda was destined to become an elite sportswoman from a young age. She has represented at State and National level since the age of 9, in sports as diverse as track running, swimming, soccer, touch football, cross country, and Triathlon. In 1995, Belinda catapulted herself onto the world stage, by taking Bronze at the World Junior Triathlon Championships, and went on to become one of the youngest competitors in the Australian Formula One Triathlon Series.
- Since moving to her favoured Ironman distance, Belinda has had three podium results from eight finishes, recently taking 2nd place at Ironman Korea in August 2002.
- Belinda is an inspirational person; not only for the difficulty of her chosen sport, but also for the courage she has shown to still be competing. In early 2001 Belinda developed paralysis in her right leg, and she was eventually diagnosed with a severe nerve entrapment injury, that threatened to end her career forever. As determined as ever, Belinda underwent three surgical operations and twelve months of self-developed rehabilitation, to prove the medical industry wrong, and return to endurance Triathlon.
- Belinda has been a finalist in the Young Australian of the Year Awards three times, for her commitment to sport and her community. She is actively involved in volunteer work with her local Christian church and with Citizen Advocacy, an organisation that assists people suffering from mental disabilities.
- Belinda is an accomplished public speaker, providing business, health, youth and women's gatherings a fascinating insight into the drive and determination needed to be a champion, in sport and in life. Key topics Belinda speaks on include:
Going Beyond Limits: Belinda provides an insight into how super-achievers go beyond "goal-setting"; how super-achievers are never satisfied and how every person can realise they have no limit to where they can go.
Balance In Life: Belinda shares her stories about how to find balance between all of the important parts of a person's life. A fascinating insight into how an athlete in a "consuming" sport can find time for everything else.
Dealing with Injury and Pain: Belinda has had her share of career-threatening injuries, and provides inspiration for those on the 'road to recovery'. Based on Belinda's soon to be published book "Dealing with Injury: How to Cope, Recover and Return".
Body Image and Self-esteem: Belinda competes in a sport where people think 'thin equals fast'. Belinda has spoken numerous times on how women and younger girls can cope in a world with increasing pressure to look a certain way, and how low self-esteem can be turned around by changing one's attitude to "what is important in life".
Christianity in Sport: Belinda is a devoted Christian, and where appropriate she can give her testimony and speak about how her Christian commitment aff