Had it not been for a serious knee injury, Tom Davison could still be playing rugby rather than competing in triathlon.
Davison, who celebrates his 21st birthday on January 5, has enjoyed a swift rise at the top level after taking up the sport just four years ago.
Rewind to five years ago when triathlon wasn’t even on the radar and his sporting ambitions focussed squarely on making the high school first XV in Christchurch.
The now slender athlete played rugby for 10 years of his life and at 20kg heavier than he is today, was at home packing down scrums in the front row.
But four knee dislocations forced him to take a serious look at his future in the sport. After three dislocations through rugby, the fourth and final injury came while snowboarding.
"It was extremely painful but at least I got a helicopter ride out of it,” Tom says of the snowboarding accident.
After a surgical knee reconstruction, he began to get a taste of all three triathlon disciplines through his rehabilitation.
"I spent nine months on crutches in 2006 after the reconstruction.
"It was a pretty boring year but I started doing a bit of swimming, trying to keep my fitness going and a bit of single legged cycling. Then once the pins came out of my knee I got into proper cycling.”
Fully recovered, Tom’s foray into triathlon continued after missing the cut for the first XV. He then decided he no longer wanted to put his body on the line every week and continued his triathlon training.
He’s developed hugely over the past few years, especially in 2010 when he was represented New Zealand on the elite senior circuit.
"Being the youngest in the field it was pretty nerve wracking. Over the year my swimming and cycling have got much better as my strengths.
"I’m looking to steadily improve for the next four years leading into the Rio de Janiero Games and aiming for the U23 podium in 2012.
"My main goal is for U23 world champs – I want to hit top 15 this season. I know I’ve definitely got it in me.”
Tom’s first event of the new season will take place at the stunning Pegasus venue just out of Christchurch as part of the House of Travel Festival of Triathlon.
The all new man-made venue features a striking vista of clear water, bridges, newly laid paths and roads and grassed areas.
"That’s going to be a good way to kick-start the season, I think it’s going to be a pretty big event. That will kick me into the Contact series for next year.”
