The message comes after Katie completed a full-length ironman triathlon event. 

Proud parents David and Sue Winkworth of Kalaru said they were ecstatic after Katie finished 10th in her division. 

“Have you ever thought of doing a little more excercise?” Sue said. 

“Perhaps increasing your swimming distance ... then a cycling leg ... all to be topped off with a long run?

“Katie did just that last weekend,” she said. 

Katie was one of 2000 competitors taking on the Ironman Asia Pacific Championship triathlon in Melbourne. 

Sue said the event started in Frankston, Melbourne, with a 3.8 kilometre swim in Port Phillip Bay followed by a 180 kilometre bike leg. 

“Competitors then had to run a 42 kilometre marathon finishing at St Kilda,” Sue said. 

A finishing time of 11 hours and 26 minutes was enough to see Katie make a top 10 finish Sue said. 

“[Her] time placed her 10th in her class,” she said. 

At the completion of the event Katie was very emotional and told her parents “this is the best day of my life”.

“I’ve done the hard work and the training and I’ve been rewarded,” Katie said. 

Sue said Katie had previously competed in shorter triathlons, but this was her first go at the full ironman distance. 

David and Sue asked if she would take part in next year’s triathlon, to which Katie responded “ask me tomorrow”.

Sue said the very next day Katie lodged her entry for the 2015 event.

Competing in triathlons has become a real passion for her daughter Sue said. 

“She [Katie]  also plans to compete in the Port Macquarie ironman event in May this year,” Sue said.