Triathlon: Swim will be key for Kiwi Samuels

Whangarei Olympian Nicky Samuels is targeting a good swim to bolster her chances in this weekend's 2012 ITU World Triathlon Championships in Auckland.

After a draining season where she has recovered from heart surgery, having her appendix removed before qualifying and then competing at the London Olympics - it will be a major ask for her to perform well on Sunday but the plucky Samuels is more than game.

"To finish in the top 10 for the world series final in Auckland would be a great end to the year ... it's an important race for the Kiwis - after all how often do you get to have the World Champs in your own back yard?," she said.

Training for the race has been hard but at least a rest beckons.

"I am hanging out for this race so that I can have a break. It has been a long year having to work hard earlier [than expected] to qualify, including having to race just two weeks after having my appendix removed and then again just five weeks afterwards to keep my points up [has taken its toll]," she said.

The Wanaka-based athlete said the Auckland course really suits her, with a hard cycle component but the hardest part for her is going to be swimming with a wetsuit.

"I tend not to get much advantage from swimming in a wetsuit whereas other athletes find it a lot faster than without one. If I exit in the lead group in the swim I should have a good day, if I don't I will be starting on the back foot and making things a lot harder for myself."

The 28-year-old credits the success of her heart surgery - to correct an irregular heartbeat - that allowed her to record her second ITU World Cup win in South Korea in a race that she led from start to finish.

"From the moment I started the race, right until the end my race plan went perfectly to plan- so just for that to happen was fantastic," she said.

Samuels chose the warmer option of preparing for the Seoul event, and the Beijing ITU Triathlon, in Whangarei after returning to New Zealand from the Olympics.

The wire-to-wire win and her increased ability to train has the Wanaka-based athlete contemplating the next Olympics in Rio.

"We have triathlon at the Commonwealth Games this time, so it's only two years to prepare for that. When you look at it like that, time flies and Rio will be around the corner before we know it.

"I think if I had a great race in London I wouldn't be thinking of Rio but because of my disappointing result it makes me hungry to go back and get a result I am deserving of," she said.

And if she can featgure in Sunday's race in front of what is expected to be a good home crowd then so much the better.