Claire Horner: “About 2 years ago Rohan Meyer came to Kent to ask him to coach him. He was quite a rookie having only done 2 triathlons in his life but we could see talent the moment he stepped onto the track. Rohan had no idea what a power meter was, he borrowed a bike and he got an entry level wetsuit. 7 half ironman races later he was on the start line at the PE Half Ironman World Champs. Kent knew he was in with a chance for a win but when Kent told Rohan this, Rohan looked at him like he had lost his mind! With only 2 kms to go on the run coach shouted to athlete that in order to win he would have to pull off a 3:30/km for the final 2km. Rohan looked at Kent in disbelief, put his head down and RAN! Rohan became World Champ in his AG narrowly beating the Frenchman.
Now we all assume after becoming world champ in your AG the natural progression is to go and resign from work & travel the World as a racing pro right? Wrong! On the Monday after Worlds Rohan went back to his job where he has a student lone to pay off, he got his sponsored bike taken away from him because Worlds was now over and life continued as normal for the World Champion. At this point, many athletes will play the “poor me” card – they post all over social media how they need sponsors, they’re the best in the World and they’re most definitely going on to an unstoppable pro career. Not Rohan! He is humble beyond belief, he believes these are the cards he has been dealt and so he just goes with it. Rohan won Durban 70.3 on a borrowed TT bike & a borrowed trisuit. He has qualified for 2019 World Champs in Nice and we now just hope and pray that a sponsor comes on board to allow his to continue him dream of racing triathlon.”
Rohan's insight on Durban 70.3 win: “Touching down in Bunnychow country, things felt different. The same old race nerves and same old race-morning stomach and toilet runs (to be late for swim start) didn’t bring any comfort or familiarity, to a big recipe that has recently been so different to what I am used to. And it scared me. The egg-and-toast bachelor life has now been replaced by dog bones, lawn mowing and late-night trainer grafting. The race surroundings, even more different. More media, more call-outs and naming, more eyes, more pressure, more distractions and snares. And it wouldn’t be a race without it, right? But, Durban 70.3 really was different. Not necessarily the race itself, which was more or less a personal moon landing in itself, but the last 6 months of my (training) life. Not quite so “Lukka bru”. Right. But my perception of competing or racing (call it what you like) has always been somewhat different. So, this time around I had to make sure that I keep my feet right on that. But no matter what, and I always say this, racing (front or back) is about you! Just about you. You versus you. It is in its own right such a privilege to rock up, in whatever form or shape, to partake. Racing yourself, that “better me every day” and enjoying it to the max is the least amount of respect one can hand an opportunity to tow a start line. And maybe that’s the single point I want to make in this writing, not a “race report” or “what it takes to be at your best”, but rather another hard reminder that Durban gave me, and that I’m now giving you for free… Be thankful! Be grateful! Racing, competing or bucket-listing is not a given, nor is it your right. It’s a privilege. Change your mindset, and your result will change! For me, this one was different. This one was something else. This one was unreal. This one was emotional. This one was special. This one was a privilege!”
By Rohan Meyer
