The promotional video for the ITU triathlon world cup

New Zealand have a few athletes competiting in the ITU triathlon world cup, the top 3 New Zealand competitors from each gender will qualify for the 2012 London Olympics. Here is some information about the triathletes trying to get a spot in the London Olympics.

Female:

Debbie Tanner

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Debbie Tanner is 27 years old. She lives in Auckland. Her first triathlon was a weetbix triathlon which she entered when she was eleven. Debbie was a Diocesan student. She got 4th place at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games and she has been winning and making podiums at World Cup events. She was the winner in the Triathlon World Cup in 2006 in Ishigaki. She was 2nd Hamburg World Cup 2006 and she was 3rd Ishigaki World Cup 2007 as well as 3rd Hungary World Cup. She also got 10th in the Beijing Olympics. Her coach is Pete Pfitzinger.  She hopes to win Gold in these London Olympics!

Andrea Hewitt

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Andrea Hewitt is 29 years old. She lives in Christchurch. She learned to swim at age 4 at the QE2 swimming pool. She became competitive at the age of 6. She came 8th at Beijing Olympic Games and got bronze at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. She is currently ranked 3rd in the world with 685 points in the ITU standings. She recently came 3rd in the ITU world cup race in Sydney. Her coach is Laurent Vidal.

Nicky Samuels

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Nicky Samuels is 28 years old. She was born in Whangarei but lives in Wanaka. She won the contact New Zealand triathlon cup. The contact races are 7 events run all around New Zealand. Nicky's best part of the triathlon is the cycle. Her coach is Mark Elliott. She has had 7 years in triathlons. She is hoping to be selected to represent New Zealand in the 2012 Olympics.


Male:


Ryan Sissons

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Ryan Sissons is only 23 years old. He was born in Zimbabwe but lives in Auckland. He is coached by Chris Pilone who coached Hamish Carter (the gold medallist in the 2004 Athens Olympics). He is currently ranked 11th and the best so far out of the New Zealand men. He was Silver medalist at the 2010 U23 Triathlon World Championships. He is currently to Oceania triathlon champion. He would love to represent New Zealand in the 2012 Olympics.

Bevan Docherty

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Bevan Docherty is 34 years old. He lives in Taupo. He is coached by Mark Elliot. He is currently ranked 18th in the world. He won silver in the 2004 Athens Olympics and won bronze in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He has won a number of world cup events and is a hit on youtube with his 'super human' sprint finish in the New Plymouth ITU triathlon. If he gets selected for the Olympics in 2012 it will be his 3rd Olympics!

New Zealand have many great triathletes and these are a few of our best, if you want any information about other New Zealand triathletes or events coming up go to www.triathlon.org.

This just in:

Lastest interview with Greg Fraine about the World Cup team triathlon with the ITU triathlon world cup people. It has been called the 'interview with team New Zealand'.
New Zealand, as it has in many other sports, have traditionally punched above their weight in triathlon for a country of its size and population. The island nation have a unique place in triathlon history with Erin Baker taking the first ever ITU Triathlon World Championships in Avignon, France in 1989.  Of course we all know about the heroics of Messrs, Carter and Docherty in Athens 2004, where they claimed gold and silver respectively. Bevan Docherty proved that he is a man for the big occasion, by taking the Olympic bronze in Beijing 2008 also. No doubt he’ll be looking to complete the collection in London 2012. The Beijing race also demonstrated New Zealand’s commitment to team tactics and national strategy, with Shane Reed clearly playing a vital role in working on the swim and bike for the New Zealand team that day, ensuring a medal for the “land of the long white cloud”.  We caught up with National Coach, Greg Fraine to get his thoughts on this year’s ITU Team Triathlon World Championships.

Did you know the format of team triathlon is?
1st Woman: swim, bike, run
2nd Man: swim, bike, run
3rd Woman: swim, bike, run
4th Man: swim, bike, run

Distances:275m swim, 6km bike, 1.5km run

ITU: How important are the Team Triathlon World Championships for New Zealand this year?

Greg Fraine: The team champs is very important to both Triathlon NZ and the athletes. The style of racing brings the best out of individual athletes and they find the race very exciting as do the public. An additional event in the Olympics is an exciting prospect that Triathlon NZ supports 100%.

ITU: The Swiss team has won the Team Championships for the last two years, why do you think the Swiss team perform so well?

GF: The Swiss have a very balanced team with a good mix of talent. I feel their winning platform is set by their consistent performance once they had a gap, and their enthusiasm to excel as a group allowed them to race a level higher than most

ITU: What level of team do you expect at the team championships this year?

GF: We expect to have a team on the start line that will be in a position to challenge for a podium. We will also look to have a second team if allowed.  [Editor’s note: Multiple entries may be limited due to possible space restrictions in transition area - this will be decided 30 days out when the final number of entries are confirmed]

Quick facts on New Zealand Triathlon
Total World Champions: 6
Elite World Championship Medals: 12
U23 World Championship Medals: 3
Junior World Championship Medals: 8

ITU: Explain the major mental and physical differences for athletes competing in a team event, as opposed to an individual event.

GF: Mentally there is pressure to perform at your best so as not to let the rest of the team down, physically the intensity is very high due the short distances and the team pressure to maintain contact with other nations or the group.

ITU: What are your opinions on the Lausanne course for the race?

GF: It’s a great course and very tough, the course gives all a chance, if there is a gap gained on another team, the bike can allow that gap to be maintained. Obviously a beautiful setting helps too.

ITU: When selecting a team, what factors do you consider?

GF: Ability, team work, and the dynamics they bring to a team make up. There needs to be a race plan and teams may be selected on their fit to that plan.

ITU: What would you think about team triathlon as an Olympic sport?

GF:Great idea . Spectator wise it is exciting and national pride always allows a nation to get in behind a team over an individual.

ITU: Who do you see as the key contenders for the world title?

GF: Switzerland, Australia and Great Britain are the real strong nations.

ITU: One word to describe team racing?
Greg Fraine: “Enthralling”

ITU: Outside of triathlon, what are your favourite sports teams?

GF: Rugby [Editor’s note: New Zealand will host the Rugby World Cup around the same time as the Auckland ITU Triathlon World Cup.]

ITU: If you could make your dream team, from all nations, of athletes currently racing what would it be?

GF: Spirig, Gomez, Jonathan Brownlee, Hewitt.

ITU: If you could make an ideal team of all athletes who ever raced, what would it be?

GF: Erin Baker, Hamish Carter, Emma Carney, Gomez

More just in:

Andrea Hewitt recently came 4th the ITU triathlon world cup in Madrid! It was a very clos