Triathlon: Comeback kid Carter full of confidence in NZ triathletes

Hamish Carter. File photo / Supplied

Hamish Carterby Andrea Hewitt might turn out to be the best thing that's happened to Bevan Docherty.

Anyway, that's the belief of Hamish Carter, who spoke to the Herald after announcing a return to competitive triathlon ranks by entering the age-group section of the ITU World Cup event in Auckland this month.

New Zealand men have struggled on the world cup circuit this year and the cynical would suggest that Carter's announcement - he will be joined in the Barfoot & Thompson ITU Triathlon World Cup by the ageless Rick Wells - was a nice little exercise in deflection.

While Carter acknowledged this year had not been a vintage one for the men, the underlying depth in the sport here and the fighting qualities of Docherty outweighed any concerns.

"The sport is in great hands," Carter said. "Bevan is a great athlete. He will find his form again.

"Everything for him is geared towards London. If you're going not so good now, when you're as talented as Bevan you're going to come right eventually."

The women, led by Hewitt, have been far more consistent on the ITU circuit. Even this far out, she has emerged as a favourite for a medal in London, though triathlon is all about finding your legs on the day.

"Andrea has really stepped up and taken that mantle of top dog," Carter said. "Bevan won't like that, which is great.

"We've got some real depth below that and this event will only build on that."

Carter has a link with up-and-comer Ryan Sissons, who is part of his SportConnect programme.

"It's going to be great to see him compete. He's starting to put his hand up to say 'I'm one of the best in New Zealand' now.

"To be the best in New Zealand, you've pretty much got to be the best in the world, which is pretty cool."

By his own admission, Carter is no social athlete. It makes you wonder why he wants to return to the sport six years after completing his last sprint triathlon. Has he forgotten how much it used to hurt?

"I haven't," he said. "That's why I'm really nervous and am not convinced it's the best idea I've ever had.

"I was on the board when the event came together. I was working with [event organiser] Dave Beeche and he said, 'Now you've got to do the race,' and I thought, 'Well, I better do what I'm told.'

"If I was watching I would have felt like I was missing out. Although I'm not going to enjoy it as such, when I finish it I'll stop and think, 'Wow, that was pretty cool.'

"I certainly wouldn't look to come back and race again. I've moved on to other things, but if you do triathlon for 15 years professionally it's in your heart. It's who you are and that will always remain. I love the sport."

Beeche said the event would be "the biggest global event on the triathlon calendar [so] we need to try everything before the world truly turns its attention to New Zealand".

Carter isn't looking for a medal. What he's looking for is to see thousands of young New Zealanders on the side of the waterfront course on November 20.

If he can encourage a few of them to follow him into the sport, he'll feel it's a fair trade-off for the pain he's enduring.