Four-time Olympian and Australian female marathon record holder Benita Willis was today announced as an official ambassador for this year’s Gold Coast Airport Marathon to be held Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July 2014.

The proud Queenslander will take part in a number of activities over race weekend including the Southern Cross University 10km Run, guest speaking at the AirAsia X Legends Lunch and providing insightful commentary during the event’s live webcast.

Benita said she was thrilled to be offered the opportunity to be part of history and race at Australia’s first and only International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Road Race Gold Label event.

“Since competing in my fourth Olympic Games in London 2012, I’ve dedicated my time away from being an elite athlete to helping others achieve their running and fitness goals as well as playing a part in enhancing their race and life experiences,” said Benita.

“I’ve enjoyed it so much that I really wanted to come back to Australia and use my skills and knowledge from my years in the sport to make a difference to people in our community and country.

“I’ve decided to work with the Gold Coast Airport Marathon as my first Australian race as it means so much to me to put back into Queensland sport as I’ve been given so much over the years as an elite athlete.”

The 34-year-old holds the Australian women’s record over 2km, 3km, 5km, 10km and the marathon and is well known for her 2004 World Cross Country Championship win in which she became the first Australian medallist and is still the last non-African to win the event.

Having been involved with a number of IAAF Road Race Gold Label events in the past, Benita understands the positive impact the event’s gold label designation and hosting rights of the Australian Marathon Championships will have on Queensland and the Australian elite road racing community.

“All my Australian record times were recorded overseas because I didn’t have the competition here years ago to push me to my finest performances,” Benita said.

“The IAAF Road Race Gold Label and Australian Marathon Championships will encourage our own elite athletes to race here as they know it’ll be great competition which will push them to perform to the best of their ability.

“It also enables our athletes to have a big race ahead of larger events overseas such as the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and I can only see the Australian elite competition growing in years to come.”

Benita said she was looking forward to joining and swapping stories with other Australian running legends, friends and Gold Coast Airport Marathon ambassadors over race weekend.

“The Gold Coast Airport Marathon will be special for me as I get to spend time with Australian male marathon record holder Rob de Castella, three-time Olympic marathoner Lee Troop, Commonwealth Games marathon gold medallist Steve Moneghetti and four-time winner of the Gold Coast Airport Marathon Pat Carroll,” Benita said.

“There is no other running event in Australia that has the calibre of Australia road running champions as ambassadors and that is really exciting for both spectators and participants.”

Participants will have the opportunity to rub shoulders with the Australian running legend when she provides encouragement and support while pacing the Southern Cross University 10km Run on Saturday.

“I will be pacing the 45 or 50 minute group and I’m so pumped because I know how important it is to have someone around you telling you how you’re going, making you feel relaxed and pushing you to have your best race,” said Benita.

“I’ve never had the opportunity to race here before. It’s such a great event for Queenslanders to have in their own backyard and for all our Australian and international guests to come and compete in.”

It will be somewhat of a homecoming for the Mackay-born athlete having spent the most part of 17 years living and training in Europe and most recently in the United States where she began her coaching career.

“For the past three and a half years I’ve been working with runners of all ages and abilities across varying distances from the 5km to the marathon in Boulder, Colorado,” Benita said.

“I’m now starting up a coaching and personal training business in Brisbane in the coming months with one of Queensland’s best distance runner’s, Alastair Stevenson.

“We’re currently training a group of Brisbane locals who are aiming to run the Gold Coast Airport Marathon.”

The Gold Coast Airport Marathon will be held on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July in one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world in Queensland, Australia.

It is set to attract more than 30,000 participants of all ages and abilities across a number of events including the Gold Coast Airport Marathon, Wheelchair Marathon, ASICS Half Marathon, Wheelchair 15km, Southern Cross University 10km Run, Suncorp Bank 5.7km Challenge and Junior Dash 4km & 2km races.

For more information visit www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au.