Warriner retires from professional racing

One of New Zealand’s most accomplished professional triathletes is set to hang up her running shoes this weekend – but she won’t be leaving the sport completely.
 
Sam Warriner, a Commonwealth Games medalist and former ITU World Cup Champion, will officially retire from triathlon’s elite ranks following this weekend’s 70.3 Half Ironman in Taupo. <<sub: Saturday 12 December>>
 
However, this weekend’s hit-out won’t be her last in the sport, with Warriner the first to admit she won’t be able to stay off the startline. The 44 year old will also remain actively involved in the coaching arena, through the Sweat7 business she founded with husband Stephen Bradley in 2007. The pair moved to Taupo from Whangarei earlier this year to reach more of their athletes.
 
“Anybody who knows me knows I could never stop putting on the suit and giving it my absolute best.”
 
Warriner has already submitted her Tri NZ nomination to compete as an age-group at the ITU Age Group World Champs in Cozumel, Mexico, after winning the age group at the Tinman in Mt Maunganui on Sunday November 29, 2015.
 
“I absolutely love triathlon – why would I ever stop doing something that gives me so much pleasure? I stand by that – I love this sport and would never do anything to harm it. It’s in that light I hope people see my move back to the age groups after spending 14 years in the ‘elite’ ranks.”
 

Sam Warriner. Photo courtesy of Shine PR

Warriner’s career highlights include the world number one ranking in 2008 after winning the ITU World Cup Series overall, plus a Commonwealth Games silver medal in Melbourne, 2006. In 2005 she won her first World Cup in Ishigaki, Japan and went on to win another World Cup later that year in Hamburg, Germany.
 
In all, Warriner has had seven ITU World Cup wins out of 14 ITU World Cup podium finishes, as well as seven Ironman 70.3 wins throughout the world. She also won the New Zealand Ironman in her first attempt at the distance in 2011 and was also the only New Zealand female to be selected for the Athens Olympics in 2004. She represented New Zealand again in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics.
 
Warriner’s coaching career includes working with athletes from weekend warriors to elites. Last year she coached four world champions, while she is currently coaching two athletes in the Tri NZ National Talent Squad. She also coaches World Paratri Champion Lauren Steadmen from the United Kingdom, the number one ranked athlete for Rio 2016.
 
Steadman starting her Paratri career just three years ago without any running or biking experience, and under Warriner’s guidance she is a triple European Champion, double World Champion and British champion.
 
“Sam’s wealth of knowledge from coaching and being a successful international athlete herself is what places her above all other coaches. Aside from pushing me to become the best athlete I can, she is also there for me as friend. She offers me strong advice and never fails to pick me up when I'm down or off track.
 
“To me there is nothing more valuable than a connection between athlete and coach. I’ve never met anybody with as much passion and determination as Sam!” says Steadman.
 
After this weekend’s final elite race, Warriner’s focus will be on “developing my Taupo youngsters into the next generation of Kiwi athletes – along with the Sweat7 team. We’ve achieved a lot together already but the future is about you guys and that’s what excites me now.”
 
Warriner says her other key focus in retirement will be as mum to three year old Lola-Rose.