Triathlon: Sissons looks good in pursuit of dream

Ryan Sissons. Photo / APN

Ryan Sissons is right where he hoped to be. Perhaps not exactly where he'd prefer to be. In a perfect world, he'd have qualified for next year's London Olympics triathlon already and be planning his 2012 campaign accordingly.

But in terms of earning a hotly contested spot on the New Zealand team, Sissons (23) enters the home straight stride for stride with former world champion and two-time Olympic medallist Bevan Docherty. Maybe he even has a nose in front.

Not bad for his first year in the sport's elite ranks, just not quite good enough for a nation that expects almost as much from its triathletes as it does of their All Blacks. After two of the three designated Olympic qualifying events, no Kiwi male has managed it yet. They have one more shot - at Sydney next April - before it becomes a desperate scramble to win the selectors' favour.

Sissons hears the critics and sympathises: "We've been massive in the past with the likes of Hamish Carter and Bevan getting Olympic medals," he agrees. "Our girls are doing really well and have absolutely outshone us this year. But the sport has changed a lot - it's far more competitive these days. There are now 20-25 guys who can finish in the top 10 at any race, which makes that group really difficult to crack.

"It's getting harder and harder, and you have to be better and better ... but I think I can do it."

Sissons began 2011 with the aim of consolidating a spot in the world's top 20 performers and has largely succeeded.

Last year's world under-23 runner-up began his campaign by defending the Oceania age-group title, but then moved up to the big time with London in mind.

"It's been good for me and I've been able to compete after a really big step up, thanks to some hard training over the summer and early this year with a few different coaches. I obviously have not qualified for the Olympics yet but I'd like to think I've had some good results in races that matter."

Sissons and Docherty (34) were 1-1 in their head-to-head rivalry over the year's two key encounters. The veteran finished five places ahead in 17th on the London Olympic course in July, but the rookie was five up (14th) at the ITU World Championship final in Beijing. In the final championship standings, Docherty ranked 16th and Sissons 18th.

"I did really well against Bevan this year and that's good for both of us," observes Sissons. "It makes him want it more and makes me train harder. But it's not just Bevan - Kris Gemmell and a bunch of younger Kiwis are all fighting for the spot."

That said, none of those others were in the reckoning when it counted this year. They may have too much ground to make up in the run to the tape and the real contest would be for a possible third spot in the line-up.

While Sissons is firmly focused on contesting the London Olympics, it's with half an eye to the future. When Carter struck gold at Athens seven years ago, he showed the benefits of getting an earlier dress rehearsal under his belt, having come up empty at Sydney 2000.

"I think my prospects are beyond London and my main goal is long-term," says Sissons. "But 2012 is still important for that reason. Attending the Olympics at 23 would be an awesome experience that would really set me up for Rio de Janeiro 2016, where I'd hope to medal."

Carter has watched the developing Sissons-Docherty rivalry with more than just a casual interest. Having battled with Docherty for most of his own career, he now helps Sissons professionally through his SportConnect organisation.

"You'd have to say Bevan has a great record and all the experience, so he's probably still the best," assesses Carter. "But it's great that Ryan is threatening. Part of my success at Athens was because Bevan was beating me, so Ryan performing well is providing that same incentive for Bevan.

"He still has a lot to learn as well, but it's up to him to glean as much out of Bevan as possible. Bevan's passionate about the sport and wants guys around him succeed, even though he'll still want to beat them."

The locals have another chance to gather Olympic qualifying points and bragging rights at today's ITU World Cup race in Auckland.

They're faced with a international field that includes Spanish former world champion Ivan Rana. The elite women start at noon, followed by the men at 2.45pm.