Finding New Zealand

The journey began with a 40-hour trip to one of the most isolated states on the planet. I traveled a lot, and… I traveled more. I took a quick flight to Qatar before landing in Adelaide, Australia for a technical break. A few hours later, I continued on to Auckland, New Zealand, but there was still one domestic flight left. After a day and a half of travel, I arrived in New Plymouth with a 12-hour time difference. My homestay family, Pam and Robert were already waiting for me at the airport, and they were really kind and welcoming from the start.

Although this was the most significant time difference I had ever experienced (it couldn’t get any longer 😅), I wasn’t too concerned because I had a full week before race day. Even though it was morning when I arrived, my body already felt like it was evening due to the time difference. To adjust to the new timezone, I stayed awake by going swimming and running a little, which helped me make it through the day without sleeping. Although I slept through the nights, it didn’t mean that my body got adapted to the time difference.

Not only was my homestay family kind and helpful, but they also owned a bike shop, which was a great blessing as a triathlete. I was lucky they grabbed my bike bag upon my arrival and assembled it for me, and did the same when I had to leave. Additionally, Robert found a broken element and replaced it. They lived in a beautiful house only a few hundred meters away from the race venue, so it was easy to access the venue.

A week to go

As I mentioned earlier, I had a week before race day to train properly. However, Pam and Robert wanted me to experience as much of New Zealand as possible. I am extremely grateful they did! Pam took me to Mount Taranaki, one of the most symmetrical volcanoes in the world. She cooked delicious meals for me every day, and I even got to try a local fruit called Feijoa, which is similar to kiwi. New Zealand is a beautiful country with lush greenery, numerous plants and flowers, and towering trees. The climate is perfect for growing grass, which is rich and dark green. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and hope to return next year!

The main focus of the week was completing the final trainings. I had the opportunity to train at a beautiful 50m outdoor pool next to the Tasmanian sea, as well as an awesome bike park with several routes. As a triathlete who struggles to find safe bike routes at home, it felt like a biking heaven. I was fortunate to train there with other athletes, including Noemi Beaulieu from Canada.

I checked the weather forecast every day and unfortunately, it predicted heavy rain and strong winds for the race day, but only for the women’s race. I was hoping that the forecast was wrong, but unfortunately, it was accurate.

On Saturday, we had the registration and course familiarization. I already knew the course and had practiced the most technical parts. The bike course was very technical and had many steep elevations. It was the hardest course I had encountered to date. The run course was also a bit elevated and not completely flat.

Race Day

On race day, I woke up and looked out of the window to find it was raining with strong winds. After eating my pre-race breakfast, we went to the venue. Following the warm-up, I went to the lineup. Since I had a high race number, I had to choose a start position among the last. Therefore, I started from a disadvantageous position. The first part of the swim was a struggle, as I was hit and slapped multiple times. However, the second part of my swim went better, and I was able to catch up. Overall, it was not my best swim; in fact, it was my worst swim ever. I came out in the 15th position.

I had a fast T1, then I started riding in the rain and wind. Most of the time, I rode with Olympic Champion Gwen Jorgensen. I had problems with my contact lenses due to the rain. Despite wearing sunglasses, the rain always tried to wash them out. Luckily, the bike ride went well, and I didn’t crash or get a flat tire. Thank God for that.

I started the run in the 17th position and expected to drop back further, but I only lost four positions. This was a great result for me, especially in a World Cup race. I was able to maintain a steady pace throughout the run and push myself. I finished 21st, and I am very happy with my performance. It’s especially satisfying because I was the youngest athlete in a field filled with top competitors, including an Olympic champion, World Cup winners, and medalists. This was my best World Cup result in the toughest field I’ve competed in so far.

Overall, I am extremely satisfied with how that race turned out. The anticipation leading up to the event was nerve-wracking, but as soon as I began my warm-up, I felt a sense of determination and excitement that I have never experienced before. Looking back, I realize that the outcome could have gone very differently at many points of the race, but luckily one of the best outcomes occurred.

After the race

The weather cleared as the Men’s race started, so we were able to watch the race in a really good atmosphere. After cheering for the boys, Pam and Robert hosted an amazing grill night, where they also invited Noemi. We had a blast time! I am truly grateful for them. Thank you Pam and Robert for everything!

Nothing left just another 45 hours of travel, and I’m back at home. Next up, my brother and I are going to race at the Arena Games Final in London. We will leave in 2 days and I can’t wait to meet with friends and compete with Arena Games legends.

Final thoughts

Thank you for taking the time to read this race-summary post. If you don’t want to miss anything fresh here, follow me on Instagram, where I will always share if a new blog is up. Also, if you found a mistake or have an idea for the future, please do not hesitate to reach out to me on the given platforms!

Also, there is a new interview in the making with my true friend and upcoming Junior athlete. But no worries, I’ll keep you posted.

See Ya next time! :)