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Champion triathlete Hamish Carter hung up his racing shoes but it seems the golden boy of New Zealand sport could not be convinced to run for office.
The recently retired Olympic gold medallist confirmed to the Herald on Sunday that he had been approached to stand for Auckland City Council in October's election - but declined because of his new day job.
"I talked to a couple of people about it, and it was offered that I might take a role, but it didn't eventuate."
After he announced his retirement from professional triathlon less than a fortnight ago - a 14-year career in which he won 12 World Cup races and a bronze Commonwealth Games medal - Carter said he would start a new job with a computer software company.
"It's going to be exciting and I'm really looking forward to it."
John Slater, president of the council's right-wing bloc Citizens and Ratepayers Now, confirmed that members of the party had approached the 35-year-old Carter in a "social setting" to sound him out.
