🎂 A day after being handed the honour of being Team NZL flag bearer at the Parade of Nations, John Wood spent his 87th birthday yesterday winning his 10th World Triathlon age-group gold medal at the World Triathlon Multisport Championships in Abu Dhabi.
The remarkable Wellington sportsman captured the 85-89 sprint duathlon title at Hudayriyat Island. For a measure of Wood’s ability, know that the American silver medallist, John Charman, finished 41min 35sec in arrears over the 5km run, 20km bike and 2.5km run course.
It was a 13th medal in Wood’s 13th age-group world championship appearance, dating back to the then-ITU Duathlon World Championships in Newcastle, Australia, in 2005.
Wood’s gold was one of five medals for Team NZL on day one of competition in Abu Dhabi.
Rachel Wagener, sister of WTCS Abu Dhabi debutant Caleb, won the 16-19 title in a one-three for NZL, as her Auckland City Triathlon Club mate Chloe Ulmer snared bronze.
Henry Ward won the men’s 16-19 title and produced the fastest time of the day across all age-group divisions. Ward’s Canterbury Triathlon Club mate Julia Burgess captured the bronze medal in the women’s 55-59 race.
On Sunday, Wood is scheduled to contest the standard-distance duathlon alongside Team NZL team-mates Ashton Guitry (18-19 / Triathlon Tauranga), Mark Stewart (45-49 / Auckland City Triathlon Club) and offshore Kiwi Boris Bourdin (55-59). Taranaki Tri Club para triathlete Bruce Jordan is set to race the PTS5 duathlon.
Guitry and Stewart were 4th in their sprint duathlon races yesterday, Bourdin 21st and North Harbour Triathlon Club’s Peter Currucan 16th in a the 60-64 category.
📷 Mel Saltiel /Supplied
