Strong work ethic drives hand cyclist to win

Brendan Stratton will represent New Zealand at the UCI Paracycling World Championships in September. Photo / Dean Purcell

Most of Brendan Stratton's competitors are fulltime athletes who train 30 hours a week.

The 41-year-old runs an IT recruitment company and a wheelchair fitting company and is sometimes only able to commit 12 hours a week to hand cycling.

But it won't stop Mr Stratton, who is paralysed from the waist down, representing New Zealand at the UCI Paracycling World Championships in September.

It will be his second appearance at the competition after finishing 10th in the time trial last year.

He believes a strong work ethic is the key to achieving his goals.

"Competing at the international level requires commitment to training and self-discipline while always looking to improve," he said.

"You need the strength, the endurance, the stamina [for hand cycling] - it's not just one-dimensional."

Mr Stratton hopes to finish at least 6th in the time trial while also competing in the road race and the team relay events.

His long-term goal is selection for the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics in 2016.

Mr Stratton was paralysed 27 years ago after a car accident, but has never allowed his situation to bog him down.

"Life is what you make of it," he said. "I'm not going to sit around and wallow in pity.

"I focus on what I'm going to achieve and put people around me who are going to help me do that."

None of those people were more important than his family and their support, he said.