Steve Gurney
Encyclopedia
Steve Gurney is a New Zealand
multisport
and triathlon
athlete. He is probably most well known for winning the Coast to Coast
race a record 9 times.
and triathlon
athlete. From there he moved into what is known as adventure racing. In New Zealand he has competed in races such as the Speights Coast to Coast
and the Southern Traverse. Internationally he competes in race events such as the Raid Gauloises
, Eco-Challenge
and Extreme Games. He won the Coast to Coast, more than any other person, in 1990, 1991, and 1997 - 2003.
Steve also starred in the New Zealand TV show "Clash of the Codes
".
In 1994, a severe Leptospirosis
infection caught from bat dung in the Mulu caves
whilst racing in Sarawak
jungles in Malaysia very nearly cost him his life with respiratory
and renal failure
. His determination and patience allowed him to fight back to full fitness.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
multisport
Multisport
Multisport is a family of athletic competitions in which athletes race in a continuous series of stages or "legs", and rapidly switch from one athletic discipline to another in order to achieve the best overall time...
and triathlon
Triathlon
A triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...
athlete. He is probably most well known for winning the Coast to Coast
Coast to Coast (race)
The Speight's Coast to Coast is a non-standard multisport competition held annually in New Zealand. It is so named as it traverses from the West coast to the East coast of South Island, and features running, cycling and kayaking elements over a total of 243 km .-History:The first Coast to Coast...
race a record 9 times.
Career
Up until 1994 he was a professional multisportMultisport
Multisport is a family of athletic competitions in which athletes race in a continuous series of stages or "legs", and rapidly switch from one athletic discipline to another in order to achieve the best overall time...
and triathlon
Triathlon
A triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...
athlete. From there he moved into what is known as adventure racing. In New Zealand he has competed in races such as the Speights Coast to Coast
Coast to Coast (race)
The Speight's Coast to Coast is a non-standard multisport competition held annually in New Zealand. It is so named as it traverses from the West coast to the East coast of South Island, and features running, cycling and kayaking elements over a total of 243 km .-History:The first Coast to Coast...
and the Southern Traverse. Internationally he competes in race events such as the Raid Gauloises
Raid Gauloises
The Raid Gauloises or The Raid is considered by many to be the first modern adventure race and was first held in 1989. Its creator, Gerald Fusil, took the existing concept of long distance endurance races, and focused on the team aspects, requiring each competitor to be part of a five person co-ed...
, Eco-Challenge
Eco-Challenge
Eco-Challenge: The Expedition Race is a multi-day expedition length adventure race in which teams of four compete. It aired from April 1995 to April 2002....
and Extreme Games. He won the Coast to Coast, more than any other person, in 1990, 1991, and 1997 - 2003.
Steve also starred in the New Zealand TV show "Clash of the Codes
Clash of the Codes
This article is about a New Zealand television show. For the inter-code rugby series see Clash of the Codes Clash of the Codes was a New Zealand television program which aired in 1994 and again in 1997...
".
In 1994, a severe Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is caused by infection with bacteria of the genus Leptospira, and affects humans as well as other mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles.The...
infection caught from bat dung in the Mulu caves
Gunung Mulu National Park
Gunung Mulu National Park near Miri, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that encompasses incredible caves and karst formations in a mountainous equatorial rainforest setting...
whilst racing in Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
jungles in Malaysia very nearly cost him his life with respiratory
Respiratory failure
The term respiratory failure, in medicine, is used to describe inadequate gas exchange by the respiratory system, with the result that arterial oxygen and/or carbon dioxide levels cannot be maintained within their normal ranges. A drop in blood oxygenation is known as hypoxemia; a rise in arterial...
and renal failure
Renal failure
Renal failure or kidney failure describes a medical condition in which the kidneys fail to adequately filter toxins and waste products from the blood...
. His determination and patience allowed him to fight back to full fitness.