The Life of Bryan

BRYAN RHODES PROBABLY ISN’T THE FIRST NAME THAT SPRINGS TO MIND WHEN YOU THINK OF NEW ZEALAND TRI ATHLETES , BUT HE HAS ACHIEVED MORE THAN MOST IN THE SPORT AND IS UNDOUBTED LY ONE OF THE TRUE CHARACTERS.

January 2010 will mark twenty years since Rhodesy competed in the triathlon at the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games, a remarkable milestone for someone in a sport that puts such high demands on the body. Although there have been countless races over the ensuing years, it is probably that hot summer day in Auckland that is one of his most memorable “I remember it as clear as day and I don’t think any other triathlon will ever compare,” he recalls. “Every inch of that course was packed with spectators and they were all screaming for the Kiwis. That gives you a real love of racing for the Silver Fern.” It must have been an even greater experience for a young triathlete in just his second international event.

Since then he has gone on to become one of the world’s most experienced triathletes, having raced everything from world cups and world championships, to iconic races across the USA and Europe, as well as half and full Ironman events all over the globe. It is the longer distance where he has now found his niche and his current tally stands at four international Ironman titles (Malaysia in 2001 and 2002, UK in 2005 and Canada 2008) with another handful of podiums. It is already an impressive record, but he feels that something is still missing, as the two races he wants to succeed in the most are also the ones that have proved to be the most elusive. Now, with his career starting to head towards a close, he is becoming even more determined. Of course the World Championships in Hawaii are where every other Ironman athlete on the planet, want to do well, but New Zealand Ironman, in his adopted home of Taupo is another that he wants to bring his ‘A game’ to. In 2008 he put himself in every position to fulfill his dream in Kona, coming off the bike in sixth. However, the lingering doubts of having completed (and won) Ironman Canada just six weeks earlier played on his mind and he eventually struggled home in nineteenth. Likewise a third in Taupo in 2005 was pleasing, but he believes he has something more to offer there and feels a top performance will do a lot for his reputation at home. Rhodes had earmarked 2010 as the year he would do the business at New Zealand and Hawaii, but of course things are not always as simple as that.

Like every successful athlete, Rhodes’ career has been a mix of highlights and low points. The difference with Rhodesy is that the low points have come about due to circumstances far beyond your normal triathlon setbacks. In 2006 he was leading the swim in the Eagleman 70.3 when he was struck by a rogue jetski and was obviously forced to withdraw. Later that same year he was unable to defend his Ironman UK title after being hit by a truck while riding the day before the race. The following year he made it to the startline at IMUK and led off the bike by thirteen minutes only to tear his calf muscle and have no option but to walk the second half of the marathon. In true Rhodesy character he suggests the day wasn’t a complete failure however because he was still able to beat the first female home. Despite these setbacks Rhodes continued on with his career and his passion. His win in Canada in 2008 suggested things were well and truly back on track, as did a second place at Ironman Malaysia in early 2009, but just as his dreams of success at Hawaii and Taupo began to look more achievable, he was struck with his most serious setback ever.

Rhodes had planned to defend his title in Canada and had chosen the Steelhead 70.3 as his final preparation race. As he sprinted down the beach and dove into the water at the start of the race another competitor’s foot clipped the back of his heel. At first Rhodes thought the pain in his calf was just a bad cramp, and despite struggling to the first swim buoy in second-to-last position, he was able to snap himself back into race mode and swim back up amongst the leaders. It was as he stood up at the end of the swim that he realised just how bad the injury was however. “I stood up and tried to put some weight on my leg and I just crumbled,” he recalls. It wasn’t long before he was carried up the beach by race officials and soon found out that his Achilles Tendon was completely ruptured. It was a devastating blow, immediately ending his season and putting the future of his triathlon career in doubt. “It was scary. I wondered ‘what am I going to do with myself – I’ve only ever done triathlon for the last twenty years’.”

There was doubt about the severity of the injury and Rhodes flew home to New Zealand immediately, where he went under the knife. The Achilles was reattached with internal stitches and he would spend the next three weeks lying on the couch with the leg in a cast. As soon as possible however, he was back in the pool, swimming and aquajogging to regain fitness and movement in the leg. His motivation was sky-high in the early stages, but as the weather turned bad and he realised just how long the rehabilitation would take, with no clear end in sight, he admits there were times when quitting was a definite option. He managed to push on through the tough times and although he was forced to have more time off than he has at any other point in his career, it was his desire to see out his goals that kept him going. “I want to come back stronger and see what I can do,” he said recently. “I want some more results so that I can go away and say that I’m proud of what I’ve done in this sport.” So after more than three months of enforced rest Rhodesy is back on track, albeit with plenty more hard work ahead of him and in particular a long way to go to restoring the size of the trademark Rhodesy calves, with the inactivity having caused significant atrophy to the muscle. “My left one is definitely smaller – it’s actually looking like a normal person’s calf at the moment,” he jokes.

One important thing that the Achilles injury has highlighted to Rhodes is that even though he should be able to get back racing, he is in the twilight of his career and must start to make some plans for the future. It’s highly likely that it will still include triathlon, with coaching being the obvious choice. He has had a number of requests already, but from personal experience it’s his philosophy that the best coach-athlete relationship comes when the coach is present as often as possible, to be able to make on the spot observations and adjustments. He also believes that he has a lot to offer the young athletes coming through in the sport, particularly when it comes to traveling and racing. “I’d love to pass on all my years of travel and world knowledge,” he says. “There are plenty of young guys with ability but no guidance. I want to show them the ropes and teach them the ins and outs of traveling. If you’re smart about things then you can put your full attention on the competition, rather than worrying about where the money is coming from.”...

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STORY BY + LIAM SCOPES
PHOTOS COURTESY + LARRY ROSA PHOTOGRAPHY