Karl Tyrell, New Zealand's No 1 ranked international volleyball referee, is ready to put down his whistle and pursue his passion for triathlon when he competes in the Ironman 70.3 Auckland tomorrow.
The experienced international, who has officiated at World Championships and was recently appointed to the World League (an annual event contested by the world's top 28 men's teams), made his triathlon debut 25 years ago in his native city of Christchurch.
He was gripped by the sport from his first experience - especially after he was handed a cold can of beer as he crossed the finish line - and he later moved into Ironman after losing a bet. "I said to a friend if he ran a sub 2h 50m marathon I would enter an Ironman of his choice," he remembered. "He clocked 2h 47m and we entered Ironman NZ in 2006."
Unfortunately, the inclement weather meant the 2006 race was not competed over the full distance, but he returned 12 months later for the annual Ironman event at Taupo to complete the first of his five ironman races.
Tyrell, who has also finished eight previous half-ironman races, believes his background as a volleyball referee and his ability to think clearly under high-pressure situations has transferred well to the world of ironman.
