Bonnie Hancock

32-year old Bonnie recently became the fastest and youngest person to circumnavigate mainland Australia by paddle. 

Growing up in the small NSW town of Sawtell, Bonnie was primarily a board paddler and swimmer and as a late bloomer on the ski, didn’t pick up a paddle until the age of 17. 

After a move to the Gold Coast at 17, Bonnie managed to grab a spot in the Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series and would complete 9 years on the professional circuit. 

After a two year layoff finishing her Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics Degree at Griffith University, Bonnie decided to focus on ski paddling, medaling at State and Australian Championships in her first year of doing so. 

In 2019, Bonnie read a book about a previous circumnavigation of Australia by paddle.. Two years later, she set off from Mermaid Beach on her surf ski and after 254 days, finished a clockwise loop around the country. Bonnie broke the previous World Record by over 2 months. She also holds the record for the furthest distance paddled in 24 hours (open ocean), completing 234 kms on her surf ski at Airlie Beach, just two weeks after returning from her paddle around Australia.

Outline of Achievements:

-Fastest person to circumnavigate Australia by paddle  (12,700km in 254 days)

-Youngest person to circumnavigate Australia by paddle (32 years old)

-First Australian Woman to complete circumnavigation 

-Longest distance paddled in 24 hours open ocean by male or female (234 kms)

-14 Australian Championship Gold Medals 

-3rd Coolangatta Gold 2012