The woman who paddles across the world's most dangerous oceans.

An Ironwoman in more ways than one.

She broke the world record while still in high school.

Jordan Mercer lives in Noosa Heads in Queensland and she’s a professional surf ocean athlete. At different times of the year she races in the Kellogs Nutri-Grain Ironwoman series and then (after transitioning out of the sprint season) she chases the long-distance, open-ocean paddle competitions – not stand up paddle boarding – laying down on her stomach and on her knees paddling the ocean.

The 21-year-old made the Ironwoman her own when she arrived on the scene at 16 years of age. Since then she’s become a crowd-favourite at every round. There had never been anyone in the Nutri-Grain Series so young.  Mercer became the youngest winner of the 55km Molokai to Oahu paddle race when she was in year 12.

Why did you decide to get in to paddle boarding?

JM: From a young age I was down at the beach and my dad was a professional Ironman so it ran in the family. My younger sister and I were down the beach and doing Nippers at our local surf life saving – just for surf safety really.

It was a bit of a chore when I was younger – I didn’t love it. Being out in the ocean, it scared me.

For more on world record breakers: Meet the woman who completed the toughest endurance race in the world.

When I was younger, it was gymnastics that I did. So it wasn’t until I was about 13 when I got to a point where I had to choose what I was going to do with my life.

Why did you decide to leave gymnastics – with your mum being a gymnast – and go in to paddle boarding?

JM: Lifestyle was probably a big one – I think deep down I knew that I did love the ocean and that coastal lifestyle. With gymnastics I had to move to Canberra to be at the AIS training for the upcoming Olympic Games – I wouldn’t be able to be at the beach.

For more amazing sports women: You need to get to know Australian soccer champ, Caitlin Munoz.

The big decision was knowing that I had a growing passion for being in the ocean – racing there and the fact that I had such a good group of girl friends. The environment and that team spirit that was created when I did surf sports was something that drew me towards a change of career path at such a young age.

Tell me about the race. When you’re in a competition – how does it work exactly?

JM: Throughout the year my seasons overlap from sprint surf life saving where I’m against the top 15 Ironwomen across the world. The multi discipline events are sprints – in and out of the ocean, sand transition runs – it’s intense. One mistake in those fast races and it’s over.

It’s something very different to open ocean paddle boarding. You’re not really near anyone sometimes. I’ve had three hour-long races where I am up against girls and we are just neck and neck the whole way and we’re working in packs. But there’s times where you’re crossing the Ka’iwi channel and not only can I not see my competitors but I can’t see land or boats or anything.

What’s that like? Being in the ocean knowing you have to beat a certain time but having nothing to compete against?

JM: I daydream very easily. And in positions like that it’s so important for me to remember what I’m doing and have a gauge of pace and pain so I know how fast I should be going, but, gosh, it just plays with your head. It’s tricky to stay sane almost.

The conditions are rough and I am out there alone. It’s easy to get frustrated and upset – negative thoughts start creeping in but that’s all part of the game. It’s such a huge part of marathon racing.

And what was it like growing up with parents who were both very high achievers in the athletic world?

JM: Maybe because that was the case I just expected that that’s the way it was supposed to be for me. I thought, ‘I’m supposed to be a winner’.  I wasn’t pushed or forced to do anything. From a young age I was just incredibly competitive and I wanted to win. For no other reason other than because I wanted to be a winner.

For more on women who like to win: Meet our next World Champion surfer.

How long does 55 kilometres take you to paddle?

JM: There’s no real answer. An example is the first year I went over – four years ago – I was a little girl, I was in year 12 at school and I wasn’t as strong as I am now and I broke the record. I crossed in five hours and 22 minutes. And I haven’t beat it since.

The next year the conditions were horrendous and it was the hardest crossing I’ve ever had, the hardest race I’ve ever had to do. That took me six hours and 30 minutes. So that’s over an hour added, which is just horrendous. That body of water is renowned worldwide as one of the most dangerous bodies of water in the world. You can pass through storms, wind, rain. Things just change so unpredictably – you’re against the conditions.

And what did it feel like when you broke the world record?

JM: It was a cool feeling being the underdog. Growing up in surf life saving everybody knew who I was because of what my dad has done. Crossing it, I was ridiculously proud and felt like I’d sort of shown people. On the inside I was like, ‘yeah, I did what I knew I was going to do. You didn’t know I was going to do it but I did.’ It was something really special.

For more female success stories: Proof that it takes 20 years to make an ‘overnight’ success.

Where do you get your motivation and inspiration from?

JM: Lots of different places. I’m inspired by people who are less fortunate than me and anybody who’s out there making the most of all of their blessings and just making the most of what they have. When I see people chasing their dreams, and doing it in their own unique way that inspires me.

And in other sporting news…

– Sally Pearson has broken her wrist in Rome at the Diamond League meet. The fall mean that the Australian 100m hurdle Olympic champion will most likely not be able to race in the world athletic championships in August. Pearson’s coach said that she broke her wrist in two places and had a dislocation. She will have surgery in Rome before returning home to Australia. We hope she has a quick recovery.

– Australia has named their touring team for the Women’s Ashes series against England. There were 15 women named in the squad, with Meg Lanning leading the way.  The team is hoping to reclaim the Women’s Ashes, which is being held in England next month.

– The Adelaide Thunderbirds has had a new head coach appointed to their team. Michelle den Dekker is the new coach for the women’s netball team. She’s the Australian Diamonds assistant coach and was the former captain. She says she is honoured to be stepping in to this role with the Thunderbirds in the ANZ Championship.

– The Matilda’s goalkeeper, Melissa Barbieri will go to her fourth FIFA world cup – coming back strong after having a baby. Her career did stall after she gave birth to her daughter, Holly in 2013. She played in 2012 when she was pregnant, but received a lot of W-League rejections after having a baby. Barbieri will now be making a debut back on the field post-baby. Good luck to her.

What sport have you been watching or playing this week?