Triathlon world mourns ex-NZ champ O’Hagan
Former Ironman champion Cameron Brown is among the multisport community mourning New Zealand triathlon stalwart Tony O’Hagan.
Five-time New Zealand champion O’Hagan died suddenly in Auckland on Tuesday, aged 54.
Brown, a 12-time winner of New Zealand Ironman – paid tribute on Twitter to O’Hagan, who twice finished on the podium at the Ironman ultra-distance event.
‘‘Incredibly sad to hear the passing of Tony OHagan,’’ Brown wrote. ‘‘Tony was one of the pioneers of Triathlon in New Zealand from the late 80s. Starting as an athlete in 1987, Tony had a wonderful career as a professional Triathlete.’’
O’Hagan was a New Zealand age-group and elite triathlon representative who became a leading coach.
He finished third at the New Zealand Ironman in 1994 and was second in 1998 in Auckland after a gutsy performance.
O’Hagan was forced to stop four times during the 1998 race because of diarrhoea, and displayed great sportsmanship by alerting race winner Peter Sandvang after the Dane, who went on to win three ITU long-distance triathlon titles, tried to take a wrong turn down a no-exit road.
He set up his own coaching business, O’Hagan Sport, and was the Auckland City Triathlon (ACT) Club coach.
The ACT club issued a tribute on Facebook after the news.
‘‘Tony has been an integral part of ACT Club, is the ACT club coach, and an active coach within the school triathlon and running community. Tony is also coach to many of our club athletes, an inspiration to all and always willing to help athletes on their journey.
‘‘Words cannot express the deep sadness that many of us feel at this time. Our thoughts are with Rachael Quin [Tony’s partner] and his family in the days ahead, and the club will offer its support to them in the weeks ahead.’’
Quin advised O’Hagan Sports athletes that tomorrow’s training run at Auckland Domain would continue, saying ‘‘we shouldn’t disappoint the coach’’.
She wrote earlier on Facebook that ‘‘obviously we are devastated by his loss as my partner, our friend, our Coach and a leader in the triathlon community.’’