The former elite rower has made a move from travelling across the water to through it and will take on the 1.9km swim, 90km ride and 21.1km run of Sunday’s Ironman 70.3 Ballarat at Lake Wendouree.

The 32-year-old from Brompton moved to Adelaide for University where, 13 years ago, she was discovered through a talent identification program and began rowing with the SA Sports Institute. She also rowed with the Academy of Sport while completing a masters of physiotherapy in Canberra.

Hughes picked up states and national championships and had the privilege of pulling on green and gold for Australia at a world cup event.

But when a back injury ended her dreams of a trip to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, she decided to move into triathlon.

Moving into a new sport after so long in another can be confronting, but it is a journey Hughes is thoroughly enjoying.

“I’ve loved it. I’ve continued training at a level which is on par with what I was doing.

“It’s been wonderful to meet new people (perhaps equally as crazy and addicted to training and competing as myself), and learning new skills,” she said.

Much of what she learnt from her long rowing career has translated to her new pursuit.

“Rowing might only be a 2000m race, but the long hours on the water, in the gym or out cross training have taught me the discipline and routine required to succeed.

“It crosses over very well with rowing. Not to mention the ability to be able to physically push my body to, and past, the point of physical hurt,” she said.

“It’s certainly incredibly addictive,” she said.