Triathlon: Hewitt closing in on new coach

Andrea Hewitt at the elite women's ITU world triathlon in Auckland. Photo / Nick Reed

New Zealand's best triathlete Andrea Hewitt might have a new coach by the New Year.

Hewitt is due to return home over the coming days as she grieves the loss of her partner and coach Laurent Vidal.

Vidal died of a suspected heart attack last month. An early problem in 2014 saw him retire from triathlon to coach.

The Herald understands Chris Pilone, the man who mentored Hamish Carter to Olympic glory at Athens in 2004, is likely to become her coach until the Rio Games. Pilone has had a successful career coaching elite athletes across the athletics, triathlon and boardsailing disciplines. Hewitt's former coach Dr John Hellemans is expected to assist in a background capacity.

Pilone offered "no comment" when asked how the situation was evolving.

However, last week he posted the following comment on Twitter: "Cambridge for a few days from tomorrow and then Christchurch for a few days from next Wednesday. Is this how retirement works???"

Cambridge is home to the high performance base of Triathlon New Zealand and Hewitt is expected to be based over summer in Christchurch near family and her wider support network.

Hewitt was the first New Zealand athlete selected for the 2016 Olympics.

She met the Olympic Committee criteria with three World Triathlon Series podium finishes, the first occurring in the 2014 grand final in Edmonton, followed by bronze medals in Auckland and Stockholm this year.

The 33-year-old backed up those results with fourth at the Chicago grand final and the overall world series silver medal, the fifth time in seven seasons she finished ranked in the world's top three.

Hewitt raced eight International Triathlon Union elite events this season. She secured two podium finishes but always finished inside the top eight. She did not finish the Olympic test event in Rio.

Hewitt's selection is conditional on New Zealand receiving a quota spot, which should be confirmed in May.