With a stellar lineup confirmed in both the elite men and women’s field for ITU World Triathlon Series Cape Town, most of the competitors are no doubt going through their final preparations and tapering regimens ahead of the pontoon dive. Be it short sprints in the pool or easy spinning along the Atlantic Seaboard; last minute sports massage or strides on the local track; the close proximity of race day brings with it a certain anticipation and nervous energy, be it World Champion or up-and-coming debutant.
One athlete on Saturday’s start list is conspicuous by her palmares and lifestyle and, quite possibly, the antithesis to the aforementioned scenario.
“It is great to be back in South Africa,” says reigning Olympic Triathlon Champion Nicola Spirig. “I was here almost ten years ago for training, but intend to enjoy the scenery this time with my family.”
Since her sprinting to victory in London almost three years ago, life has become quite busy for the articulate Suisse. A lawyer by qualification, Spirig’s increased public profile in her homeland has seen her become an ambassador for many sporting projects. She has also dabbled in other endurance sports and – more importantly – become a mother to two-year-old Yannis with her husband Reto Hug.
“I like being busy,” explains the multi-talented Spirig. “For me, it is important to have a life outside of the sport. The last couple of years have been great and afforded me so many great and varied opportunities.”
Possibly one of the busiest elite triathlete in the history of the sport, Spirig’s involvement in a national junior triathlon series in Switzerland has seen her give back to the sport. Yet juggling this project with training, racing and being a mom does have its challenges, something which she takes in her stride.
“I couldn't do it without Reto,” says Spirig of husband Hug, himself a former Olympian and national coach for the Swiss Triathlon Federation. “We are a good team and coming to Cape Town gives us the opportunity to to relax as a family and compete in an international race.”
With the Rio Olympics in little over a year, there are many athletes scrambling for last minute qualification points. Spirig’s path to qualification and title defence will see her contesting the inaugural European Games in Azerbaijan as well as the Continental championships at home in Switzerland. Her official presence in Cape Town is twofold: get back to World Series racing and help her home country accumulate much needed Olympic qualification points. And take in the sights.
Not that her buildup has anything textbook. A second-place in Sunday’s Zurich Marathon (2hr45) was a good training run, as her coach Brett Sutton puts it. Arriving in Cape Town early on Tuesday, Spirig and Hug could only access their accommodation in the early afternoon. With young Yannis going to sleep early evening, a later-than-planned dinner was enjoyed before some much-welcomed sleep. Not that this seems to worry Spirig though.
“My legs should be good come Saturday. I think I’m going to stay on the indoor trainer for cycling training just keep loose. The water was pretty cold this morning so I'm not sure how much swimming I'll do this week. We would like to go up Table Mountain tomorrow, but only if there is time.”
