Former Ironwoman Bonnie Hancock currently holds the world record for the fastest paddle of a surf ski around the Australian coastline - 12,700km in just under 9 months straight - being pursued all the while by sharks, crocodiles and all kinds inclement weather conditions. In the process she raised $65,000 for the mental health charity Gotcha 4 Life, which she continues to advocate for today.

But while her years of training and thorough preparation certainly helped Bonnie achieve this feat, the real X-factor was something else, something shared with her crew...