By Hamish McKay
After the disappointment of the London Olympics, Triathlon New Zealand has appointed a new high performance director.
Englishman Graeme Maw will take up the role after October’s World Triathlon Series grand final in Auckland.
Andrea Hewitt’s 6th place finish reflected New Zealand’s disappointing triathlon results at London 2012, prompting action in the form of English coach Graeme Maw.
But is he here to rattle triathlon's cage?
“I don’t know about that,” Maw says. “You've got a very successful tradition of triathlon out there and I don’t know there’s a lot of rattling that needs to be done. Maybe some refining.”
The hope is a return to the glory days of Hamish Carter and Bevan Docherty in Athens eight years ago, with triathlon New Zealand bringing in the heavy hitter.
Maw headed the British triathlon program for six years culminating in the Brownlee brothers’ stunning gold-bronze double podium finish in London.
Maw is hoping he can get more out of our top competitors, but also has an eye on the future.
“We're looking at an eight-year plan which is often what it takes to establish a sustainable plan - so over a two-cycle Olympiad through to wherever the 2020 games is.”
The make-up of the Kiwi athlete is one factor helping lure Maw down-under.
“The New Zealand physique and the New Zealand character, it’s exciting and I was fortunate enough, as the British performance director, to be on the receiving end of Hamish and Bevan in Athens - and it was a pretty inspiring sight watching them on that course.”
Maw starts his new job in December.
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