🇳🇿 Rebecca Swainson has come a long way in the sport since this happy moment captured during her Team NZL debut at the then ITU World Long Distance Triathlon Championships in Fyn, Denmark.
It was July 2018 and the now Wales-based Kiwi – ‘Bexx to her nearest and dearest – had just claimed bronze in the 20-24 age group. It would be the first of five medals collected from nine starts across six now ‘World Triathlon’ age group championships.
Originally from Hunterville, Swainson has announced she’ll retire from triathlon after her 7th appearance at this month’s World Triathlon Multisport Championships in Spain. Making that even sweeter will be the honour of leading Team NZL into the Parade of Nations in Pontevedra.
After flag bearer duties, she’ll compete in the aquathlon to sign off a glittering swim, bike and run career that has also included five podiums in seven Ironman starts, a treasured finishers’ medal at the 2023 Kona World Ironman Championships, an impressive sub 10-hour Challenge Roth campaign and, also last year, a sub 5-hour effort at the 70.3 worlds in Taupo.
“Seven years of swim bike run and I’m announcing my retirement once and for all. You’ve all heard me say it before but this time I’m sticking to my guns,” said Swainson who added another long distance bronze to her tally – this time in the 30-34 category – at last year’s multisport worlds in Townsville.
“I hang up my triathlon hat with love and happiness knowing I’ve left no stone unturned. Why retirement? If it doesn’t challenge me and push me outside my comfort zone, what’s the point? Yes an Ironman is a challenge but I know I can do it so it’s onto bigger and scarier things.”
Those new challenges? It was to include seven marathons in as many days in Tajikistan last month only for a torn meniscus suffered in a skiing fall in February to temporarily put pay to that. The ultra goal though? An 100 mile ultramarathon.
Yup, that sounds scary to us too.
Swainson has paid tribute to friends, family, sponsors, racing pals and Team NZL manager Mel Saltiel as she prepares to hung up her trisuit.
“You’ve seen me cry tears of happiness, tears of joy, tears of pain, tears of failure, fed me to avoid the hangry monster and always been there at the finish line with beers and love,” she said of her inner circle, “Team Swainson Past and Present”.
“When I started in triathlon I never dreamed in a million years that it would be possible for a little country girl from Hunterville to race on the international stage and at number of world champs.”
Fittingly, the final farewell will end how it all started with Swainson proudly flying the New Zealand flag.
Gómez: Vamos Kiwis in Pontevedra!
🇪🇸 Javier Gómez Noya has strong links to New Zealand but home for the five time then world champion, London 2012 Olympic Games silver medallist and 2019 ITU Long Distance World Championship winner is Ponteverda. It makes the Spaniard ideally placed to lend his local knowledge to the 70 Kiwis set to represent Team NZL at this month’s World Triathlon Multisport Championships, including flag bearer Bexx Swainson.
