Bronze Medal Report - Sam
10 June 2008
Well what can I say…I have just had the best day ever!
I have just finished third in the World Championships and I can’t believe it. I’m sitting here now in bed at one in the morning and I’m absolutely exhausted and my body aches so much! We have just been out to the closing ceremony to celebrate with the age groupers, it’s been a great team effort all round.
The weather here in Vancouver has been really cold. The water was only 10 degrees today and the air temperature was a mere 13 degrees. During the days leading into Worlds we thought long and hard about how we would best ‘manage’ the cold. In the end this involved a variety of measures; two wetsuit caps, hot water poured into my suit before the swim, silver foil down the chest of my tri suit to maintain core temperature, arm warmers, helmet vents taped up with black electrical tape, toe warmers on shoes etc. In the end it payed off as I was warm on the bike and when I transitioned onto the run I was able to get my helmet off quickly and run fairly normally..And that was what I was worried about!
I was really pleased with myself today as I’ve done something I’ve never managed before, to get a medal at the world championships. I have never performed well at Worlds but today I put that record to bed. But more importantly for me I performed well on the big day. World Championships are always one of the hardest events to perform well in as not only are all the other athletes at the top of there game but the pressure of the occasion does strange things to you too.
New Zealand has a large Age group team and I always want to perform well for them as I know just how much they support me.
The day started out with me going for my early morning run, a regular thing I do on race morning, I always go for a 10 minute run. I was greeted by a group of kiwis out early cheering the under 23 athletes on. The Kiwi’s were great and so vocal, but they all said we’ll be cheering for you this afternoon. Obviously I said that’s great and thank you but in the back of my mind I really wanted to put on a good show for them all.
I did not have a great swim and looking back now from the comfort of my hotel room I am a bit gutted as I did not go out aggressive enough. I still got out where I needed to make the front pack but I know I’m swimming better in training and it’s frustrating that 1500m of my swim is jeopardized by the first 200m. I intend to work on that in training once I get to France!
But that said, it didn’t phase me, I had a brilliant first transition and time trialled up to the chase group very quickly. A few of us worked and we started picking up time but then the pack was too big and I had to make the decision of either keeping working or saving my legs. The Americans were working as a team and one of their team mates (Sara Haskins) was up the road so they were slowing the pace of our group down.
When we eventually got off the bike and started running I couldn’t feel my toes which was a bit of a shock initially. A group of three of us got away early on the run, me and two Australian’s. We ran the whole way together, We ate into the lead of the first two but not as much as we needed to if we were going to have a chance of catching them.
Coming into the last lap I led the two Aussie’s as they continually tucked in behind me to shelter from the strong headwind that had built along the seafront. I knew I had to drop them as both of them were young and you just expect the youngsters to be able to sprint. I kept pushing the pace but just could not drop them and then with about 200m to go Erin Densham started her sprint.
It’s funny looking back (although it wasn’t funny at the time!) But my first thought was…bugger…here she goes. But then instantly I knew I had to go with her. She got a small gap and I thought she’s got me but I never gave up and kept sprinting. With 10 metres to go she was slowing and some how I just dug in one last time, my legs were flying as fast as they could go. I took her on the line and collapsed on the floor but I got the bronze!!!!
The roar of the crowd down the home straight was amazing and everyone was on their cheering. The support from the kiwi crowd was amazing, silver ferns and kiwi’s everywhere…it was amazing, it really was.
I still can’t believe I got third in the world, it’ been a dream come true!
More importantly, I’m just so pleased with how I never gave up and kept fighting right to the end. I honestly didn’t know I could sprint or my legs could move that fast, it was the best feeling ever as it would have been so easy to settle for fourth. Fourth would have been a good result and if you’d asked me that morning if I’d be happy with fourth in the World I’d of said yes, but when it came to the crunch I wanted that final spot on the podium so much, I can’t describe how it feels now…it’s amazing!
So now I’m sat in my hotel room at 1.30am the morning after the race, we’ve just got back from the age group ceremony and I can’t help but think back to 2001 and how it all sort of started for me. Edmonton, Canada 2001 I finishing second in the 25-29 age group. I said to myself back then “If I can achieve this now, what else can I achieve?”, and to be honest I’m sat here now asking myself that same question 7 years on. I truly believe I have a shot at Olympic Gold in just over two months time.
My training partner Lee Greer got the bronze in his age group (20-24) and Mike Gowing (50-54) who I have been coaching got a bronze too. So for the Whangarei contingent we all got a bronze medal which was brilliant. Mike said he cried as he came over the line which I thought was so sweet. Lee’s girlfriend Nicola did herself proud too with her best result ever, as did Christine and Darren too.
Well I’m off to bed as I’m so tired but I just had to write my update with such great news as I wanted you all to know how I got on. I’ve got a date with pancakes, syrup, cream and strawberries in the morning and then a massage!
On Tuesday we head to the South of France for the next chapter in my journey to the Olympic Triathlon. I have had such a great time in Canada and a great block of training which obviously showed today.
So, good night, happy training and thank you to everyone who has emailed me with messages of congratulations, I only finished the race seven hours ago and the number of well done messages is so touching I nearly cried when I got in from the medal ceremony. Thank you all it means so much to me.
Take Care and I look forward to updating you from the south of France,
Sam.
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