KEY POINTS:
Four years ago, Kris Gemmell was commentating on one of New Zealand's greatest sporting moments. On Tuesday he'll be hoping history goes a long way towards repeating.
It was Gemmell who recognised early on in the bike leg that Hamish Carter and Bevan Docherty looked strong. During the
run when it began to dawn on everybody that it was going to be New Zealand one and two, it almost wasn't fair on Gemmell; there was a palpable sense he wanted to be there. At the Ming Tomb Reservoir course he gets his chance.
Docherty will be there again and, according to experts, the hilly course will be tailor-made for the strength rather than the speed athletes, which New Zealanders typically are.
The men's event, one day after the women's, is where most believe the best chance of medals come from, with Taupo's Docherty ranked No 2 in the world and Gemmell eighth. Also racing is New Plymouth's Shane Reed (his brother Matt is racing for the US) and he will have to have the race of his life to contend.
But don't rule out a return from the women. One in particular, Sam Warriner, is older and, she says, a lot wiser. She admits the hype around the Olympics got to her in Athens where she finished a long way down the field. But she told the Northern Advocate she's been happier with her build-up this time, miles away from the distractions of the Village.
"This time around I am just focused on the business really," she said. "I did struggle with the whole Athens atmosphere thing. It was a bit overwhelming at the time but I have deliberately taken a different approach this time and staying out of all the hype helps me. I don't feel comfortable in that sort of atmosphere."
Training at a nice venue in Cheju, Korea, and sheltering yourself from the hype does not guarantee a medal, however. It's something Warriner said she was acutely aware of.
"I feel like I am in control. I have done all the little things I need to to be ready for this one now, but you know the Olympics can be really like a lottery. There are 50 girls on the start line, 25 of us believe we can win but I think about 10, maybe eight, of those actually have a chance of winning. It really is just a case of the cards falling your way on the day and only the triathlon gods can decide that.
"But I firmly believe I am one of those girls. I've done all the work to be ready for this race."
While New Zealand will have the full complement of three athletes, with former world junior champion Andrea Hewitt and Debbie Tanner also qualifying, they are unlikely to work as a team, all three probably harbouring medal aspirations.
British-born Warriner, 37, had a poor last World Cup race in Austria but believes she's ironed the kinks out. She'll need to because in Portugal's Vanessa Fernandes and Australia's Emma Snowsill - just for starters - there are two of the most formidable woman triathletes in the world.
"I know if I have the sort of swim I am capable of then I have the strength on the bike to make some moves there if I need to... I have to be there or thereabouts on the run because chasing someone like Fernandes down will be hard work."
