Hansen picked for fourth Games
WELLINGTON: The international career of 40yearold triathlete Andrea Hansen continues after she was yesterday named in the New Zealand team for this year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
She is one of six athletes selected, including four who competed at last year’s Olympics, led by bronze medallist Hayden Wilde.
Hansen (nee Hewitt) has been competing on the world stage since 2005 and last year had a daughter.
Birmingham will be her fourth Commonwealth Games. She has won two Commonwealth Games medals and has also competed at three Olympics.
‘‘I’ve been working towards this but it’s still a bit of a surprise to be named,’’ Hansen said.
‘‘I didn’t know how I’d recover after having my daughter, Flossie, 15 months ago, so I’ve feeling very lucky to be back for my fourth Commonwealth Games.’’
All six athletes will compete individually in the
Olympicdistance race, which consists of a 1500m swim, 40km bike and 10km run.
Once they have competed in the individual events, a team of four will be named to compete as a team in the mixed relay.
Wilde has carried on his impressive performance since the Olympic Games with an Xterra world title, a second place in the Triathlon Super League, a win at the Singapore Arena Games in May and a silver medal at the Yokohama triathlon.
Wilde will be joined by fellow Olympians Tayler Reid, Ainsley Thorpe and Nicole van der Kaay, alongside Hansen and Auckland triathlete Dylan McCullough.
Thorpe said she could not wait for her first Commonwealth Games.
‘‘I’m super excited to be selected to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games.
‘‘I’m looking forward to my overseas campaign in the leadup to the Games alongside my teammates.’’
Van der Kaay, who won silver at the world series in Hamburg at the end of 2021, is thrilled to be returning to racing in Europe.
‘‘It’s always an honor to suit up in our colours, knowing New Zealand is backing us.’’
The reserves are Olivia Thornbury and Trent Thorpe.
The naming takes the total number of competitors selected for the New Zealand team for Birmingham to 63. — RNZ