Fresh from getting New Zealand on the medal table in Tokyo, bronze medallist Hayden Wilde has revealed a pre-race message from Black Cap fast bowler Trent Boult helped inspire him to the podium.
Talking to Radio Hauraki's Jeremy Wells and Matt Heath, it was revealed Wilde's coach Craig Kirkwood sat next to Trent Boult on a flight earlier in the week - and the Kiwi swing bowler then contacted Wilde before the big race.
"To get a cheeky little message from Lovely Trenty (Boult) pre-race … it was inspirational stuff I tell you that," Wilde said.
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The triathlete then went on to credit the Hauraki's Matt & Jerry Podcast as something that helped him get through the early hours of training.
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Advertise with NZME.Wilde revealed his 10-year plan will hopefully see him compete in the next three Olympic cycles, in Paris, Los Angeles and Brisbane.
Listen to the full interview here:
Wilde claimed New Zealand's first medal of the Tokyo Olympic Games – and won some fans in the process with a classy act after crossing the finish line.
Wilde took out the bronze thanks to a stunning run leg to finish behind Great Britain's Alex Yee (silver) and Norway's Kristian Blummenfelt (gold) in a thrilling finish to the men's triathlon event.
The trio were neck and neck going into the final sprint to the finish line before Blummenfelt put the hammer down to claim the gold by 11 seconds. Hayden finished 20 seconds behind the Norwegian winner.
It turned out to be everything Blummenfelt had left in the tank as he collapsed to the ground shortly after crossing the finish line.
As Blummenfelt lay on the ground, a delighted Wilde rushed to help his opponent off the ground in a heartwarming act of sportsmanship.
Blummenfelt was so spent, he even had to be put in a wheelchair after the race.
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Advertise with NZME."He can't move," said the television commentator. "He cannot walk another step. 51.5k's and maybe half a metre and that was it. He was done. He's now in the wheelchair just for the moment to calm down and cool down."
For Wilde, the race was an emotional one and he dedicated his medal to his late father.
"He died 12 years ago and never got to see me race," he told Sky Sport after the race.
"I know they've (the rest of his family) booked out the old fishing club back home. It's pretty awesome. I think they got half the community in Whakatane back home.
"I didn't have enough for the gold but am stoked to get back on the podium."
Fellow Kiwi Tayler Reid finished 18th, 1m 50s behind the winner.
