Greg Bennett takes his world No 1 ranking to the start line on Sunday after a consistent year on the world circuit. Fourth in last year's world championships in Cancun, the 33-year-old Australian has had a big year including victory in the ITU World Cup race in Ishigaki, Japan.
Disappointed atmissing out on the Australian team for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Bennett is in Queenstown in the best shape of his life.
Bennett, who splits his time between Noosa in Australia and Victoria, Canada, where he trains with Olympic champion Simon Whitfield - the 10th seed here - is engaged to American Laura Reback, the third seed in the women's race.
A consistent top-three finisher this year, Bennett reckons he has endured every imaginable injury in the past 10 years.
"I had everything," said Bennett, who has also found time to complete a university degree. "Achilles, shin splints, plantafacia, you name it, I've had it."
A regular in the Australian team since 1994, Bennett had his first World Cup win in 1997. As well as his fourth at last year's worlds, he finished in the same spot in Cleveland, US, in 1994. He has yet to make the podium at the world championships.
