Ali Day is chasing a perfect 10 for the fairytale Coolangatta Gold finish.
The ironman has never lost in nine starts as a professional in the gruelling, 41.8km multi-discipline surf event, including in 2022 despite carrying a seven-centimetre tear in his calf.
In the race that began as an idea for a movie 40 years ago, the 33-year-old Day wants to hit double figures then walk off into the sunset.
"They take it out of you," Day, also a five-time Ironman series winner, told AAP ahead of Sunday's Coolangatta Gold.
"The older you get the harder it is ... if I was to be successful I wouldn't look back on doing it again, for sure.
"So this is a huge one for me; the one I love doing the most and I'll think about that a lot this week, that it could be the last time I feel this."
The race takes Day about four hours and sends athletes up and down the Gold Coast's southern beaches on ski, board, swimming and running legs.
"The first time, you're worried about having a good race and not coming last," Day said.
"The shoe's on the other foot now. I'm trying to win again, keep the streak going. There's a lot on the line, even though I don't have much to prove.
"In its 40th year, it's special and I'm hoping it's the fairytale finish."
Day, who has recovered from badly-broken wrists in 2019 to win three more Ironman and Gold titles, will still compete in the next Ironman series.
But he admits his future is up in the air beyond that.
"I've a young family and I'm a selfish athlete - that's what it takes to be successful - so I'm taking it away from them the more I do it," he said.
"I'm just proud and grateful to be able to line up again in a race that's arguably the hardest in our sport."
He saved praise for Guy Leech, who won the first two iterations of the event in 1984-85 and then claimed it again in 1989 when it was known as the Gold Coast Gold.
"He's the one that paved the way, started it all and allowed guys like me to make a name for ourselves," he said.
"All those guys, (1991 winner) Michael King who coached me, (2007 winner) Rhys Drury who I trained with, (five-time winner) Caine Eckstein, he was my hero. It's pretty special."
Day and Leech caught up recently and the luminary was quick to remind the young buck of his own glory days.
"Guy, if you know Guy, he always gets the last laugh," Day said.
"He'll always say that me, him and Caine would have had a really good race."
COOLANGATTA GOLD
* 23km ski (Coolangatta to Tallebudgera Creek, return)
* 1km run (Coolangatta to Tweed Heads SLSC, return)
* 3.5km swim (Coolangatta to North Kirra SLSC, return)
* 6.1km board (Coolangatta to Pacific Pde, return)
* 8.2km run (Coolangatta to Golden Four Dr, return)
