Dean Mercer Explained
Dean Paul Mercer (24 November 1969 – 28 August 2017) was an Australian sportsman who competed in ironman events.[1]
Career
Mercer was born in Bulli and raised in Thirroul, both suburbs of Wollongong.[2] Early in his career, Mercer and his brother Darren were coached by their father, John.[3] Mercer became a professional ironman at 15 and competed from 1987 to 2010. He won the Australian open ironman titles in 1989 and 1995,[4] and five New South Wales championships. In 1997 he won the World Oceanman series.[4] He competed in his last Coolangatta Gold aged 40.
In 1992, Mercer was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for "service to surf lifesaving",[5] and in 1990 was inducted into the NSW Hall of Champions at Sydney Olympic Park.
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.[6]
Private life
Born on 24 November 1969 to Maureen and John Mercer, Mercer grew up in Thirroul, New South Wales.[7] [8]
Mercer married Kaylene Costello in 1998.[9]
In 2003, he married Reen Corbett, an ironwoman competitor in her own right.[10] They later had four boys.
In 2013, a magistrates court ordered Mercer to repay almost $700 after stealing bedsheets from a department store. No conviction was recorded.
Mercer died after suffering a cardiac arrest while driving at Mermaid Waters on 28 August 2017.[11]
Notes and References
- News: Profile: Dean Mercer. 18 February 2008. The Sydney Morning Herald. 28 August 2017.
- Web site: Former ironman Dean Mercer in court over pinching sheets. sunshinecoastdaily.com.au. 28 August 2017. 28 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170828072048/https://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/former-ironman-dean-mercer-court-over-pinching-she/1777782/. dead.
- News: Ironmen fight for top honour . Condon . Matt . 9 October 1988 . 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..
- News: Koubaridis . Andrew . Matthey . James . High profile former Ironman Dean Mercer dies on the Gold Coast . news.com.au . 28 August 2017. 28 August 2017.
- 886232 . Mercer, Dean Paul . Medal of the Order of Australia . OAM . OAM/Aust Day 1992 (General Division. For service to surf lifesaving . 28 August 2017 .
- Web site: Welcome Dean Mercer as Surf Sports Officer . kurrawasurf.com.au . 28 August 2017 . 29 October 2014 . 28 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170828105025/http://kurrawasurf.com.au/surfclub/2014/10/welcome-dean-mercer-as-surf-sports-officer/ . dead .
- Web site: The Ones To Watch - Open Males . Media Guide Coolangatta Gold . 15 . 28 August 2017 . 27 January 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140127081430/http://archive.hansonmediagroup.com.au/mediaDocs/2007%20NIB%20Media%20Guide.pdf . dead .
- Web site: The mighty Dean machine keeps on keeping strong! . Brienen . Julee . 26 January 1999 . The Illawarra Mercury . 28 August 2017.
- News: Mercer Marries His Sweetheart . Tobin . Glenn . 20 April 1998 . 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..
- News: Dean marries his queen Reen . Brown . Jenny . 5 May 2003 . Woman's Day.
- News: Former Ironman Dean Mercer dies in car crash on way home from training . 28 August 2017 . ABC News . 28 August 2017.
