Tell us about how you got into triathlons.
I was a 73 kg, 5’3” overweight rugby player from Gore. I thought, “I’m fat as fuck, I better lose some weight so I can be in the cool group and fit through regular-sized doors.” The very next day, I laced up my Nike Airs from Front Runner Dunedin and got my pudgy ass round the block. I became infatuated with fitness. Then a few coaches from home got me in the pool and out on the bike. From there it was a natural progression, and I never looked back.What big races have you competed in, and how did you do?
World Championships in 2009 on the Gold Coast was probably the highlight. I came 13th. I also raced for Team Cycle World in the New Zealand Road Cycling Series. I had to take a 16-month break from early 2010 after sustaining a knee injury, so it’s really good to be back racing.Are the only two available pastimes in Gore boy racer and triathlete?
Yes. Without a doubt that is all you can do. A fellow triathlete named Aaron Barclay who is a Youth Olympic Champion and an avid boy racer has actually achieved well in both.Which discipline is your favourite, and why?
It would have to be cycling. Being surrounded by other men and women in Lycra just really excites me. It’s the same reason Logan Edgar does it.Do you have much time for training these days? What kind of time do you put into it each week?
Yeah, when I’m not debilitated by injury. My Coach/Life Coach Rob Creasy has me swimming for 1 – 2 hours most mornings, cycling 8 – 12 hours plus a race most weekends, 3 – 6 hours running plus maybe a gym or bikram yoga session in there too.New Zealand seems to produce a lot of good triathletes who compete internationally. Why do you think that is?
New Zealanders have the great ability to adapt to new challenges – the whole Number 8 Wire mentality. I find that New Zealand seems to create a lot of great triathletes because we love to rise to a challenge. Triathlon is such a dynamic sport; it really suits our athletes.What kind of structure is there for young triathletes who want to do well, how does triathlon NZ help people out?
There is a high performance tier system, which allows athletes to enter a selection process from a young age if they meet certain requirements. Then athletes can progress through the system, which means better funding, coaching, and opportunities to race within NZ and internationally.What have you got coming up?
Triathlon World Champs in October in Auckland, the first time it has been held there.Got any long-term goals in triathlon?
I personally need to ramp up the swimming so I can be more competitive at elite level. I possibly need to take time off just to be a swimmer. That is a two-year plan. I want to compete at the World Champs next year in London and reassess from there.I read on the ODT website (I Googled you) that your main inspiration is Lance Armstrong. Still the case?
A lot has changed in the last five years… but in saying that, he still has done a hell of a lot in terms of the fight against cancer with his LiveStrong foundation. I find that pretty inspirational. But it looks like he may have popped more pills then Keith Richards.Who is the next big thing in triathlon?
Mike Peree. He’s a fresher from Cumberland College who I had the pleasure of meeting this year. I heard a rumor he is the heartthrob of the first-year population of Dunedin. The two big guns you will be seeing at the next Olympics will be Ryan Sissons and Tony Dodds.If you think you’re doing something good in sports and you’re a student, get in touch with me. You could easily be on these pages within the week.
