Triathlon: 'This is the best, the high of highs' says coach

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Thousand of kilometres away from the tumultuous scenes at the end of the Olympic triathlon in Athens, unsung hero Mark Bone took special pride in watching the New Zealand one-two.

As swim coach for both Hamish Carter and Bevan Docherty, Bone watched as his charges went stride-for-stride at the end of one of the golden days in New Zealand sport.

"I wasn't concerned when I saw Hamish off the pace at the end of the swim," said Bone.

"What was it? Ten seconds? That's nothing. You have to feel in doing that he had conserved energy. That's how it panned out."

Bone, who has coached Carter since 1993, said he was overcome with emotion in watching him race to such an emphatic victory.

"I was in Sydney four years ago" (when Carter came 26th). "That was awful."

Bone spoke to both Carter and Docherty just hours before yesterday's race. "I could tell from the way they were talking they were in magnificent shape.

Both athletes were composed and mentally "in-tune" with the race.

"To see [Carter] have that final kick, it was awesome. I said to my wife that's what will happen and it did."

Asked to rate this performance alongside the highs he experienced as national swim coach, Bone, who was head coach of the swimming team in Atlanta, said: "Danyon [Loader] was awesome but watching Hamish - someone I have worked with five days a week for 50 weeks a year - do this was something else.

"This is the best. The real high of a lot of highs.

"I have even run with him at times in the past year but not at the pace he turned on in Athens."

Bone, glued to his television set throughout, said he felt that Carter would win once he showed his superiority on the run.

"Every time he attacked on the hills he looked strong. When he kicked at the finish I knew he would win.

"The one-two that Hamish and Bevan have achieved is a credit to the whole [triathlon] organisation."

- Additional reporting: Louisa Cleave