High hopes

Beloved Bahrain Endurance 13 athlete Terenzo Bozzone still hopes to reach his Ironman World Championship Kona dream, but until then, he is delighted to be spending time with his family. He also encourages other athletes to use this time to rest and reflect before getti ng back into action, writes Lisa Pringle.

No one knows better about the struggle than the Kiwi Ironman winner who has had a rollercoaster few years. His high points included winning three Ironman 70.3 races on consecutive weekends, recording his first sub-8 hour Ironman finish at Ironman Western Australia and finally winning his hometown Ironman New Zealand. His low point came when he had a traumatic bike accident that derailed his planned bid for an Ironman world title. Last year would have been his comeback – until his Achilles tendon flared up.

At the beginning of 2020, his health and fitness was finally on track. However, Covid-19 had other plans for the sporting calendar, cancelling and postponing events in more than 170 countries, including the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic Games next year.

Bozzone said: “As much as I want to get going and get back racing, get life back to normal, the main priority in the world at the moment is for people to get back healthy and society to get back to a sense of normality. I’m just thankful that I have my family and everyone in my corner to be here, be all together working through this and getting through this time. In New Zealand, while the lockdown restrictions are quite tight, people are allowed to get outside, do a little bit of exercise outside which is a lot more than folks in Spain can do. So, I’m grateful for that.”

Family has always been a massive driving force and support system for Bozzone. He added: “At times it’s pretty hard; I can imagine it’s hard for them to put up with grumpy me when I get home from a long workout or when training hasn’t gone so well. And I’m very fortunate my wife always understands that a midday nap for me is high on the must-have list.

“It’s also really exciting having two young kids and knowing you can help mold them. And that’s what kind of inspires me when I’m having a really hard time or things are really tough, I want to teach my children that persevering through those tough times and when you can work hard and put your mind towards something, then you can achieve anything.”

In his 21 years in the sport, Bozzone became a five-time world champion (twice for junior duathlon, twice for junior triathlon, and the 2008 Ironman 70.3 world champion) and is set on accomplishing more.

He said: “During the journey the last couple of years with the hairy patches, I remember vividly waking up in the hospital after getting knocked off my bike and saying to myself, ‘If ever there was a reason I needed to get out of the sport and look at the next chapter of my life, this would be a great excuse.’ Tell you what; I did not sit on that topic for very long. Actually, immediately I said, ‘No. I still have unfinished business in the sport.’

“I still want to get to the top of the podium in Kona. And I still love the journey I get to go on as a professional athlete, and the journeys I get to take my family on. That’s really exciting and I’m looking forward to that journey progressing to something special in the next couple of years.”

Bozzone is looking forward to roaring back into action once racing resumes around the world.

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