The fun was gone: Dodds
Kiwi Olympic and Commonwealth Games representative Tony Dodds has called time on his professional triathlon career.
Dodds, of Wanaka, has spent 13 years competing on the international stage.
He finished 16th at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in the men’s individual race and was a member of the New Zealand mixed relay team that finished third.
He was a late inclusion for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games triathlon team after he dropped his appeal following his initial exclusion.
At his peak, Dodds was ranked 12th in the world.
Dodds, who turns 31 next month, described the moment he knew he was done.
‘‘I got on the bike one day went 20 minutes and I knew ‘I was done’. Essentially the fun was gone, and my heart wasn’t in it. The enjoyment just wasn’t there, and I simply turned back home. You sometimes hear athletes say, ‘they knew the moment it was over’, I understand that now, that ride was my moment,’’ Dodds said.
‘‘This past year or so has had a few ups and downs, and I guess over that time a number of factors have led to me seriously considering my future in the sport, but that bike ride was the moment I knew.’’
Despite suffering numerous injury and selection setbacks in his career, Dodds has always battled on and remains fiercely proud of representing his country on multiple occasions throughout his career.
He finished 10th and was the first Kiwi man home at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
‘‘I am very proud to have represented New Zealand at the Glasgow and Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and Rio Olympics, that was always the ultimate and my dream as a young Kiwi – to one day wear that silver fern at the Olympic Games.
‘‘I have had an absolute blast living my dream, travelling the world meeting new people and racing alongside some of my best mates,’’ Dodds said.
Dodds considered retirement following a tough 2016 that included his 21st-place finish at the Rio Olympic Games.
Not only was Dodds struggling with a nagging hip injury, he was robbed twice within a week while in Barcelona in the lead up to the Games.
‘‘Post Rio I was in thinking about it [retirement] but knew that I hadn’t quite reached my peak and hadn’t left every stone unturned.
‘‘I could have retired then but that would have left me with regrets.
‘‘I can comfortably say now that I am fully relaxed about it, I am confident and excited about my decision,’’ Dodds said.
He credited former coach Tim Brazier and his more recent coach John Hellemans as being a massive part of his success. He also thanked High Performance Sport NZ, New Zealand Olympic Committee and Triathlon NZ, his family and supporters.
Dodds has begun coaching triathletes but, in the future, said he will consider options in media and the building trade.
‘‘My focus now is doing the things I dreamed of while I was a triathlete.
‘‘Just the chance to not have to live out of a suitcase will be amazing – to stay in one place for a decent length of time. For now, I will be tinkering around our sec- tion building bits and pieces and looking after some farm animals.’’