Hi from the UK - Sam
5 September 2008
I made the most of being at the Olympics once my race was over, it was
awesome. I went to see so many events and watched the other New Zealanders
compete. It was a lot of fun but also hard. On the outside I was happy
and cheering but on the inside I was hurting. The Olympics are the most
amazing event but they can also be the harshest place to be if you don’t
do as well as you’d hoped. I really did not go to Beijing to finish 16th,
I went to win a medal and felt from the training I’d done and my form in
the build up races I could achieve that goal. However that was not to be
in 2008, but whose knows in 2012.
So where am I at now, well I’m back in training, more positive and more
determined than ever to finish the season on a high. I also have the
extra excitement of a new coach.
Murray Healey has been a brilliant coach but we always agreed he would
only take me through to the Olympics. I am very grateful for all the help
and support he has given me, and it is sad to part. However for me to
make it to the next level I need to go to the best.
Siri Lindley (three time World Champion and winner of 13 World Cups)
approached me immediately after the Olympic Triathlon and told me that I
have only just scratched the surface as far as my potential in the sport
goes…..this got me excited as in triathlon Siri is a legend. She has
coach numerous World Champions both male and female and has already told
me she thinks I've got what it takes to be a World Champion in 2009.
I have started my new training program already and it’s going really well.
I race in Scotland this weekend which should be fun as the race format is
a 300m swim/7km bike/2.2km run. There are heats and the top ten qualify
for the final which is done two hours later. So that should be fun and a
great way to bury my demons from the Olympics. Then I have three weeks to
get ready for the French World Cup. I’m currently still ranked N0.3 in
the World Cup Rankings so I would like to maintain it or finish higher.
After France it’s Dallas and then finally Mexico, before flying home to
New Zealand at the end of October. I’m looking forward to getting home as
I am missing all my friends and all the little things we do when we’re at
home. Also when I get home it means racing in New Zealand in the
triathlon NZ summer series which I am really looking forward to also.
Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to catching up
with you all on my return.
Regards,
Sam.
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