EROWAL Bay's Matt Lewis will create history at this weekend's Huskisson Triathlon Festival, when he becomes the first ever Shoalhaven athlete to don the number one bib.
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After first competing in the event eight years ago, as a way to get fit for his then boxing career, the now 26-year-old hasn't looked back.
"I fell in love with the sport during my first race, as it gave me a satisfaction that I had never experienced before in my sporting career," Lewis said.
"So after three more fights, I decided to follow what I loved and here we are today."
Since making the transition, the former St Johns student raced in events all around the country, as well as in Europe, which led him to receiving his professional licence in August - before making his debut three months later.
"To be granted a licence, you need to show over a long period of time that you are above the standard of age group racing," Lewis said.
"That's obviously quite hard to do as Australia has so many great athletes competing - luckily enough for me, over the past few years, I've been able to prove that I'm ready to make the jump."
On the back of this, the Jervis Bay Triathlon Club athlete was announced as the wearer of the number one bib for Sunday's Ultimate Husky Long Course.
"To receive the bib came as a massive surprise to me - especially in front of all my closest friends and family," Lewis said.
"Obviously, at the end of the day, it's just a number, but it means so much more to me than that.
"For them [Elite Energy] to go out of their way to organise this, which is a way of them rewarding me for all my time and effort, means the world to me - it's a huge honour that I'm not going to take lightly."
Despite wearing the number one bib, Lewis is realistic about his chances against a field that includes several world champions.
"From a personal point of view, I'm really happy with my preparation going into this weekend," he said.
"As this is my first year competing against the pros, it's all about the swim for me - if I can get a good start, it can set me up with a strong pack for the next two legs.
"To win a Husky Tri, be it this year, or more realistically in a couple years time, is something I'd cherish forever."