Tokyo Olympic Games: New Zealand’s Triathlon stars heading to Tokyo



Four stars of New Zealand’s elite Triathlon team have been selected for the New Zealand Team to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
 
The athletes heading to Tokyo are: 

  • Nicole van der Kaay, Women’s Individual Triathlon & Mixed Team Relay (Tri Sport Taupo / Taupo) coached by Stephen Sheldrake
  • Tayler Reid, Men’s Individual Triathlon & Mixed Team Relay (Eastland Triathlon & Multisport Club / Gisborne) coached by Stephen Sheldrake
  • Ainsley Thorpe, Women’s Individual Triathlon & Mixed Team Relay (Cambridge) coached by Bruce Hunter
  • Hayden Wilde, Men’s Individual Triathlon & Mixed Team Relay (Eastern Bay Multisport & Triathlon Club / Whakatane), coached by Craig Kirkwood

For the first time at an Olympic Games, the athletes will compete as a team at the Mixed Team Relay, known as the MTR or MR. This exciting new format for the world of triathlon is a thrilling four-person female and male relay race over a super sprint distance of 300m swim, 8km bike and a 2km run. The race usually lasts less than 90 minutes making for exciting viewing, with each triathlete's effort generally lasting around 20 minutes.

All four athletes will also compete individually in the respective Men’s or Women’s Olympic individual distance race,  which consists of a 1500m swim, 40km bike and 10km run.

Ranked 12th in the world, Hayden Wilde from Whakatane, claimed a bronze medal at the 2019 Tokyo ITU World Triathlon Olympic Qualification event and is currently in Europe competing on the World Triathlon Championship series. He posted a 5th on the World Cup circuit in Leeds this month and third over the line in the Elite men at the European Championships in Austria.
 
“It is an absolute honour and privilege to be selected for the New Zealand Olympic team. It has been a dream for many, many years and it is now becoming a reality. It's a satisfying feeling!” commented Wilde.
 
Wilde and his teammates, Tayler Reid and Ainsley Thorpe, were all part of the gold winning U23 Mixed Team Relay Worlds in 2019 and will want to repeat that success in Tokyo.
 
Tayler Reid from Gisborne and Nicole van der Kaay from Taupo, already have a Commonwealth Games bronze medal from their previous performance in the MTR event in 2018 on the Gold Coast.
 
Reid also won gold in the U23 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final in 2018. The “Gizzy lad” is thrilled to be named on the team.
 
“I’ve dreamed of going to the Olympics my entire life, and I’m super excited that it is now actually happening. Every day it’s at the front of my mind, working to improve so I can deliver a performance to make my family, Gizzy and New Zealand proud!”
 
Ainsley Thorpe from Cambridge, is coming into the Games on top form, with a recent second place in U23 category at the World Triathlon Oceania’s in Port Douglas this June and fourth overall. The Oceania 2020 Sprint Champion and World Cup circuit podium winner has her eyes set on Tokyo.
 
“To all the people who have supported me throughout all my years of training and racing this Olympic selection is my way of paying you back, thank you!” says an excited Thorpe.
 
“I'm looking forward to what is going to be a very unique experience and can't wait to put on the New Zealand uniform!" 
 
Nicole van der Kaay from Taupo, who placed seventh in the individual race at the Commonwealth Games is amped to be back on the international racing circuit.
 
“I’m thrilled to be a part of the New Zealand squad wearing the silver fern on the Olympic stage!” says van der Kaay.
 
“It’s been a childhood dream of mine and it’s soon to come true. Let’s see what us kiwis can do!”
 
Thorpe, van der Kaay and Reid have been training at a Tri NZ High Performance camp on the Gold Coast, while Hayden Wilde is training in Europe. The reserve athletes are Rebecca Spence and Trent Thorpe.
 
Watch the racing:
Men’s Individual Triathlon race – 26th July – Race start 9:30am NZ time
Women’s Individual Triathlon race – 27th July – Race start 9:30am NZ time
Mixed Team Relay Triathlon race – 31st July – Race start 10:30am NZ time
 

 
Athlete Bios
Hayden Wilde - Men’s Individual Triathlon & Mixed Team Relay
Tokyo 2020 will be Hayden’s first Olympic Games. He is currently ranked 12th in the world. 
Hayden claimed a bronze medal at the 2019 Tokyo ITU World Triathlon Olympic Qualification event.
He posted a 5th on the World Cup circuit in Leeds in June 2021 and third over the line in the Elite men at the 2021 European Championships in Austria.  
He was part of the gold winning U23 Mixed Team Relay Worlds in 2019 and will want to repeat that success in Tokyo.
Hayden is originally from Whakatane but currently trains in Tauranga with Craig Kirkwood.
Hayden comes from a long distance off road background and has raced and won the iconic 2 day Coast to Coast, 2x Xterra U19 World Champion and has also been the ITU Cross Tri U23 World Champion.
 
 
Ainsley Thorpe - Women’s Individual Triathlon & Mixed Team Relay
Ainsley is originally from Auckland but now lives and trains in Cambridge. Tokyo will be her first Olympic Games.
Ainsley earned her first World Cup podium in 2019 and is part of the team that won World Triathlon Series in Edmonton and U23 World Championships at the Mixed Team Relay (MTR) event.
She is the Oceania 2020 Sprint Champion and coached by Bruce Hunter.
Ainsley is coming into the Games on top form, with a recent second place in U23 category at the 2021 World Triathlon Oceania’s in Port Douglas and fourth overall.
Her grandparents are the most influential people in her career, because they are her biggest supporters and watch her race around the world. And she loves spending time with friends and her little nieces Scarlett and Addie.
 
 
Nicole van der Kaay - Women’s Individual Triathlon & Mixed Team Relay
Nicole is from Taupo and was attracted to triathlon for its variety and capacity to absorb her boundless energy.
2018 saw Nicole’s best results including a fourth place finish in the ITU Triathlon Grand Final Gold Coast and podiums at various other ITU events.
She podiumed with a Commonwealth Games bronze medal in the Mixed Team Relay with Tayler Reid as one of her teammates, at the Gold Coast games in 2018. She also placed seventh and top kiwi female at the same Commonwealth Games in the individual triathlon is amped to be back on the international racing circuit.
Nicole is currently studying towards a BSc in Psychology and is coached by Stephen Sheldrake.
 
 
Tayler Reid - Men’s Individual Triathlon & Mixed Team Relay
Tokyo 2020 will be Tayler’s first Olympic Games.
Tayler was the U23 World Triathlon Champion having taken out the title at the 2018 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final on the Gold Coast.
He has also won a Commonwealth Games Bronze medal as part of the Mixed Team Relay in 2018 on the Gold Coast. And cemented his Mixed Team Relay pedigree with a Gold at the U23 World Championship Mixed Team Relay in Lausanne in 2019.
Tayler is originally from Gisborne but currently resides in Cambridge with the High Performance Team and is coached by Stephen Sheldrake. Tayler is also doing his Business Degree via Massey University.

Triathlon