Olympics: Triathletes confirmed for Athens

1.00pm

Officials today confirmed a strong New Zealand triathlon team for the Olympic Games in Athens in August.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) and Triathlon New Zealand announced a four-member team following trials at the world championships at Queenstown last December and the Oceania championships in Tasmania last month.

The team comprises Taupo's Bevan Docherty, Aucklanders Nathan Richmond and Hamish Carter, and Samantha Warriner of Whangarei.

Docherty is ranked No 2 in the world on current International Triathlon Union rankings and Carter is No 9.

Richmond, who was the leading New Zealander for the final spot in at the Oceania championships, is ranked No 95, while Warriner is ranked No 35.

Carter is the only surviving member of the team from the 2000 Sydney Olympics where the sport made its Olympic debut, and from the team at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games, where he won a bronze medal.

Docherty this month won his first World Cup race in Japan to move up to second place behind Australia's Greg Bennett in the world rankings.

The NZOC have opened the way for the addition of one further female competitor, subject to qualifying a second spot at next month's world championships, and on the quality of that performance at Madeira.

"New Zealand has been a world force in triathlon since its inception and we believe they will be highly competitive at the Olympic Games," NZOC secretary general Barry Maister said.

"They have shown on the world stage in recent years and at the Manchester Commonwealth Games that they have the individual capability to produce top performances."

- NZPA