When the Freycinet Challenge kicks off this October, all eyes will be on defending men’s champion Alex Hunt. Hunt has already etched his name into the history books, winning the event nine years in a row – and 2025 could be the year he claims his 10th consecutive crown.
Hunt’s connection to the Freycinet Challenge goes back nearly two decades. His first taste of the event came in 2007, when as a teenager he joined a 1-day team. He was entered for the run stage, but when their paddler pulled out, he unexpectedly took on both stages. It was a baptism of fire that lit a passion for multi-sport racing.
Since that debut, Hunt has lined up at the Freycinet Challenge every single year. Fourteen of those campaigns have been in the gruelling solo category, a testament to his endurance and determination. His first 2-day solo race came in 2008, when he was just 17 years old, setting the stage for a long and decorated career in the event.
And decorated it is. Hunt has dominated the men’s championship every year since 2015, an incredible run of consistency and grit across the rugged terrain and demanding waters of the Freycinet Peninsula.
It’s not just in Tasmania where Hunt has proven his talent. In February 2025, he conquered one of the toughest multi-sport races in the world – New Zealand’s legendary Coast to Coast. In doing so, Hunt became the first Australian in 32 years to claim the title, cementing his place among the very best in the sport. Closer to home, he backed that up in August with victory at the Winter Challenge Tasmania, showing his dominance across disciplines and conditions.
Now, with nine Freycinet Challenge titles already under his belt, Hunt is chasing a milestone that seemed almost unthinkable when he first ran through the course as a teenager: 10 consecutive wins.
Whether he makes history this October or not, one thing is certain – Alex Hunt’s legacy as one of the Freycinet Challenge’s greatest competitors is already secure. But if he does claim number 10, it will be another extraordinary chapter in an already remarkable story.
