Multisport: Norden to make Kinloch debut

Anne Haug (left) and Andrea Hewitt flank Sweden's Lisa Norden at the 2012 ITU world champs final in Auckland. Norden competes at Kinloch this weekend.

Triathlon royalty is coming to New Zealand to take part in the Sovereign Tri Series at Kinloch and Takapuna next month.

Starting at Sovereign Tri Kinloch, on the shores of Lake Taupo on Sunday, Sweden's Lisa Norden contests the Oceania Sprint Championships in an international field.

The Olympic silver medallist and former world champion is jetting her way to New Zealand to set up camp for a few weeks as she looks to launch herself back into the ITU World Triathlon scene after a two-year absence.

"I had a year off post the London Olympics, for a number of reasons really," said Norden.

"I was injured leading into the games and with the pressure of the Olympics and doing well in the world series that year, it was a massive push mentally and physically - I was kind of fried and needed a break from the travelling and pushing every day."

Do not be confused though as Norden prepares to race this weekend - the 30-year-old is back with serious intention to return to the top of the sport she dominated in the lead-up to the London Olympics.

"I am bringing the speed work into the next phase in New Zealand, it is nice to be half-way through this initial phase and to contemplate getting back into the racing at Kinloch and Takapuna and start to push the body a bit more at a higher intensity."

One of Norden's key aims is to earn vital ranking points to get starts in some of the big ITU races this season, and with Kinloch hosting the Oceania Sprint Champs and Takapuna an Oceania Continental Cup race, there are points to be picked up.

Norden will be a star attraction in Kinloch and is looking forward to adding another New Zealand venue to her CV.

"I like New Zealand very much and enjoy racing there. At the moment there are a couple of the Swedish team in Cambridge at the Tri NZ base, with our head coach Frederick Lundin - also a swim coach. He is coaching me and another guy - I am meeting him at the airport on arrival for a two-week camp along with some of our development athletes.

"I have never raced in Kinloch before but I love returning to New Zealand, my first world champs as a junior was in Queenstown and I have raced Takapuna before but was coming out of injury and didn't finish the run. Plus of course I have raced in Auckland and New Plymouth.

"I have heard that Kinloch is a brutal bike ride, that is what people are telling me, so I am looking forward to a solid race. I am a bit terrified to be honest, it is a long time since I was racing and some of the New Zealand and Aussie girls will be young, hungry and fresh - racing already and coming off an endurance block. I expect a lot of pain on Sunday, I love that but it is a bit terrifying."

The Oceania (and New Zealand) Elite Sprint Championship fields will feature a strong New Zealand contingent, including London Olympian Kate McIlroy and ninth place finisher at the 2014 ITU World Under-23 Championships Sophie Corbidge (Auckland). The Kiwis will be up against a strong Australian team that includes world ranked junior Jaz Hedgeland, and former World Cup medal winner Natalie Van Coevorden.