New Zealand will return from the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games with two medals and just as importantly a wealth of experience under the belts of its two athletes and Coach Nathan Richmond in what has been a very successful week.
16 year old Dan Hoy and 17 year old Lizzie Stannard joined forces with Australians Brittany Dutton and Jack van Stekelenburg to bring home bronze in today's Mixed Team Relay, to go with the silver medal won by Hoy and a 13th place for Stannard in the individual events held earlier in the week.
The Oceania team was up against other Continental Teams, unlike the Olympic Games when nations are represented, and had to fight against the might of European, North American, Asian and African representatives.
And while the medal count is superb, Coach Richmond says this was as much a vital learning experience in an Olympic Games like environment as it was a chance to race.
"I couldn't be more proud of Dan and Lizzie and their efforts in racing but also in the way they have conducted themselves throughout this experience. And that is what it is, an experience for a young athlete that goes beyond the racing. It has and continues to be about the truly international aspect of the event, sharing the village with other teams from all around the world, learning how to cope in that environment and to prepare for a race of international significance. Both Lizzie and Dan are very inexperienced and this provides an invaluable learning opportunity."
As for today's bronze medal winning effort, Hoy spoke on behalf of the team after a frenetic and gruelling race.
"That was a lot harder than the individual race. I was on my own (behind the top two) from the swim. I think those two joined up on the bike and were out of sight. I don't think I made any time up in the run. My legs had nothing in that first k."
"Lizzie (Stannard) and Jack (Van Stekelenburg) had a really good race. I think they'll be happier with that than the individual race. It's good for them to get another race to prove what they actually can do."
Results: Nanjing Youth Olympic Games Triathlon Mixed Team Relay
Gold: Europe 1, Ranwig, Hansen, Morier, Dijkstra, 1:22:17
Silver: Europe 3, Rainsley, Soldati, Gomez Cortes, Lehmann, 1:22:30
Bronze: Oceania 1, Dutton (AUS), Stekelenburg (AUS), Stannard (NZL), Hoy (NZL), 1:23:10
