The Samoa Triathlon team in Hawkes Bay. Photo: Triathlon Samoa
A lack of funding support has not has not dampened the spirits of the Triathlon Samoa athletes preparing for the New Zealand Sprint Distance Championships in Napier on Sunday.
Triathlon Samoa secretary-general Lani Wendt-Young said the team members had to fundraise to pay their airfares to participate at the event.
Their accommodation, meals and transport for the trip is being provided for by the USO Bike Club members in Hawkes Bay.
"It takes a village. Behind every triathlete flying away to represent Samoa are so many family, friends and volunteers who have dedicated time, money, and resources to get them here," she said.
She thanked parents and coaches and "worldwide aiga" for their support.
"We are so grateful for their generosity. And we could not have our athletes go to this event without the help of the USO Bike Club."
Wendt-Young said the four athletes - team captain Gideon Mulitalo, 20, Urlin Mulitalo, 18, Manamea Schwalger, 17, and Tyreece Collins, 16 - have made it to Hawkes Bay where they have been preparing for the event.
The team is being managed by Sade Schwalger, who has been the link between them and the community members.
The Samoa Triathlon team members with members of the USO Bike Club in Hawkes Bay. Photo: Triathlon Samoa
Members of the USO Bike Club and the Hawkes Bay Triathlon association have been assisting the team in their training, especially getting acclimatised to the cold water.
"Probably the biggest difference doing a triathlon in Samoa and doing one in New Zealand is the water temperature which means they have to wear a wetsuits for the swim," she said.
"Putting on the wetsuit is hard enough, but then to be competitive and fast out of the water, a triathlete has to be quick to take it off as they're running to get on the bike!
"We are so blessed to have experienced and skilled triathletes volunteer their time to teach our young team."
Expert tips
The four have been getting expert help and tips from Jeremy Rimene and Lisa Chittick from the Hawkes Bay Triathlon club, who did a wetsuit tutorial session with the team, in water temperatures just hitting 20 degrees.
Wendt-Young said the athletes have also been lucky to get some tips from some of the world's best tri-athletes.
This includes Hayden Wilde, a bronze medalist at the last Olympics, silver medalist at the Commonwealth Games and currently ranked number one in Oceania and number two in the world.
Others included Valerie Barthelemy from Belgium, who was ranked 10th at the last Olympics and currently ranked 55 in Europe and 100 in the world, Hanne de Vett from Belgium, ranked 89th in Europe and 178th in the world, Eva Goodisson of New Zealand, who is currently ranked 13 in Oceania and 148 in the world.
"Our young team got to sit with them, ask questions and talk triathlon with them these elite level athletes," she said.
Samoa Triathlon team members leaving Apia for New Zealand last week. Photo: Triathlon Samoa
Triathlon mentor Darren Young had told the Samoa Observer before the team left Apia that the competition will give their tri-athletes the opportunity to keep learning and get better.
He said it is important that the athletes always have a goal to train for.
The four team members also represented Samoa at the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
"We see it every four years. Sports get hyped to go to the Pacific Games, they train hard, and then when they come back?
"It all dies again for another few years. But we need to train consistently all the time.
"That's why we planned for our young triathletes to go to this event in NZ. They had a short break over Christmas and then right back to training," he said.
Participants at the New Zealand Sprint Distance event will have to swim one lap over 750m, bike ride over four laps of 5km and run two laps of 2.5km.
The event will be preceded by the World Triathlon Championship that is also being staged in Napier on Saturday.