Zeinab, Mr A.

The Hon. C. BONAROS (17:14): I seek leave to move the motion in an amended form.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C. BONAROS: Abdullah has now won the race, so I move the motion as follows:

That this council—

1. Congratulates young South Australian born and educated man, Abdullah Zeinab, who has, on 19 June 2019 at 7.30am South Australian time, won the Trans Am (across the United States of America) Bike Race;

2. Celebrates the formidable achievement of Abdullah in winning this unassisted bike race, crossing the United States of America from west to east, a distance of some 6,745 kilometres, in the record-breaking time of 16 days, 9 hours and 56 minutes;

3. Notes that Abdullah led the race from the start and has stayed ahead of the field of 74 entrants throughout the gruelling route;

4. Recognises Abdullah’s past achievements in Australia, in winning the Australian Perth to Sydney race in 2018; and

5. Thanks Abdullah for the inspiring example he sets for young Australians to persist in pursuing their goals, dreams and passions.

I rise today to congratulate young South Australian born and educated man, Abdullah Zeinab, who, as I said, at 7:30am today won the ultra extreme Trans Am Bike Race across the United States, from west coast to east coast, in the record-breaking time of 16 days, 9 hours and 56 minutes. Not only did he ride a distance of 6,745 kilometres across America unassisted and finish ahead of the other 74 competitors, but he absolutely smashed the previous record by an impressive 10 hours and 45 minutes. It is an extraordinary achievement.

The race is regarded as one of the toughest cross-country cycling races in the world, and for good reason. You can imagine setting off across a country with just your bike and everything you think you will need for the next 16 days or so, with the realisation that there is absolutely no assistance available at all along the way. To pedal your bike nearly 7,000 kilometres at a rate of more than 400 kilometres a day across countless mountains, enduring whatever the elements will throw at you during the early stages of an American summer, is something that I am sure most of us will struggle to get our heads around.

Even more remarkable is that Abdullah, who attended St Andrew's primary school and Pembroke College in Adelaide, is not a professional cyclist. He does not even belong to a cycling club. Abdullah also completely self-funded his entire trip from his employment as a builder's labourer. He does not have wealthy parents or a rich benefactor, or even a corporate sponsor. He is an ordinary everyday 25-year-old Australian of immigrant parents who has undertaken this extremely extreme ultra challenge, only his second long-distance ride, for the personal challenge, fulfilment and reward of having conquered an extraordinary feat of human endurance and courage.

I am sure all South Australians will join me in acknowledging his outstanding achievement and thank him for the inspiring example he has set for other young Australians to persist in pursuing their goals, dreams and passions no matter how ambitious or foreboding the challenge might seem. I congratulate, applaud and, indeed, admire Abdullah for his personal drive and determination, not to mention, of course, his mental toughness. I am sure he has an extremely bright future ahead of him in whatever challenges he chooses to take on in life. I look forward to meeting him on his return home, that is if he accepts the invite I intend to send him. With those words, I seek leave to conclude my remarks.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.