Olympics

2018 i hit the ground running in my first world cup in Italy 2nd place, just losing it in the last 500m. what a thrill and experience! i was hungry for more.

I continue the rest of my season in Europe, training with the New Zealand team for the first time in Spain if I wasn't in Spain, I was Couchsurfing with old friends and exchange students who came to my school to save as much money as I could to survive the next race. This was the reality for a few years until, in 2019, I started making waves on the world series, where i began collecting many points for Tokyo. Placing well in Hamburg and having my best result in Edmonton (4th place world series), winning the Edmonton MTR with my incredible NZL team, then having enough points to race test event in Tokyo. "This is where we test the course that will be used in Tokyo, pretty much a test drive" having an absolute breakthrough over the Olympic distance, I placed 3rd.

Since moving away from the off-road and pursuing my Olympic dream, a lot changed in time. i changed jobs (30hrs a week as a landscaper, better pay). Coach Dave told me i need to move with good intentions to explore and see if i can unlock untapped potential. He helped me find Craig Kirkwood (commonwealth games representative for marathon 2:13 pre super shoes) then, later on, teamed up with Olympic swimmer and coach Liz van wellie. After two years of complete grind, from 22min 1500m swim, down to swimming high 17s for the 1500m, running 16min for 5000m down to 13:50mins and riding the best I've ridden in the space of a few years, i was ready to make my debut in Europe. 5:20 am - 7 am swims 9 am-15:00 working a heavy labourer's job to bike or run in the afternoon. You could say i put my body through hell.

i had a fantastic boss, and he let me have a few months off so i could pursue my European tour and start collecting points for Tokyo 2020

Over the covid period, i swam a 1500m PB low 17mins, ran a 5000m PB on track 13:29, and i was biking well! 2021 i finally left NZL to prepare for Tokyo. three races later, learning a lot and those three races, especially since I haven't raced for over a year and a half and knowing if I put everything together, it could be a pretty special day in Tokyo. When arriving in Tokyo, the atmosphere was electric even though you had to wear masks and there was a lot of health protocol. It was still an unreal feeling that kid watching from the couch and 2016 and now being here in person, I couldn't describe the feeling.

The year that didn't happen and the year that changed my life.

2020 March, i hit the ground running literally!!

Mooloolaba WC night before, my girlfriend and i went over the bike course and got taken out by two kids on bikes jumping out onto our side of the road going 50kmhr. i got a few bumps and bruises, but for Hanne, she had a head injury, and we spent the night in Hospital; Hanne was unable to race the next day, but i was able to race, but i was at 60%. Happy to take 2nd, especially at 60%. Then drama COVID. Stuck in NZL, the games were postponed, which gave me an advantage so i could stay home, train hard, work on my weaknesses and better my strength.