Almost a year ago Gold Coast local Dana Burfeind was fighting for her life as she lay bedridden for four months with a serious illness.
But it was all a distance memory today when the 32-year-old swam to a gold medal in the Pan Pacific Masters Games women’s 2.5km open water swim at Lake Hugh Muntz on the Gold Coast.
Faced with the uphill battle of returning to good health after her final surgery in April, Dana was determined to involve herself in as many sports as possible.
“I got really sick in December and almost died,” said Dana.
“After my surgery I knew I had to do something to get better and I thought triathlon would be really hard and something I could focus some training on.”
The US-born marine biologist brushed off the tough conditions in the water today to finish off her Pan Pacific Masters Games campaign in style.
“This is the longest continuous swim I have ever done,” said Dana.
“It was a little rough especially at the far end where it was like a washing machine because of the wave energy bouncing off the walls and knocking you around.
“That section was harder than an ocean swim because in an ocean swim you have a little bit more predictability whereas there was none down there.”
When Dana first began training for triathlons she couldn’t swim the length of the pool without stopping but now she has plans to compete in her first half ironman.
“When I first started I couldn’t swim the length of a 50m pool without stopping so to finish today I was really happy,” said Dana.
“When I started running I couldn’t run 100m but the other day I ran six kilometres without stopping at a good speed.
“It is really rewarding because I can see that change everyday I’m out there and I can see that I’m just that little bit better than the last time.”
Dana also found time to compete in athletics and indoor rowing at the Games where she took out a handful of medals and is adamant she will return in 2014 for back-to-back gold medals.
“I got gold in the discus and silver in the shot put as well as silver in the 500m and 4 minute indoor rowing events,” said Dana.
“This was my first masters and I had such a great time, I’m absolutely coming back in two years time.”
The new system was born here and filagra this is not something that we would like to see. Caverta whilst better in some elements but not significant for us.
