Young Kiwi triathlete Ryan Sissons learnt some good lessons last season, and will draw on those heading into the biggest year of his career so far.
The 23-year-old raced his first season under the elite tag in 2011, after making the move up from the U23 ranks.
He had an impressive season to say the least, with top 20 results at six of his eight international ITU races, as well as winning the U23 Oceania title in Wellington earlier in the year.
Sissons has had time to reflect on his season and assess what worked, what didn't and what improvements he needs to make during the off-season in order to achieve his ultimate goal of qualifying for the London Olympic Games.
"The season itself has been pretty perfect for me and I'm looking forward to stepping it up again next year,” he said.
"I raced well in all the World Champs Series races. I was basically top 20 at every race which was really good.
"I learnt a lot again over the past year and I know what I need to do in 2012. It's been great moving from U23 to racing elite this year and I'm ranked 18th in the world so can't complain too much.”
Needing a top 10 finish at the London World Championship Series race, Sissons, along with the other Kiwi men missed out on qualifying an automatic slot for next year's Olympics.
He finished 22nd in London, but has another chance to qualify at the newly rebranded ITU World Triathlon Series race in Sydney.
Sissons knows what's at stake and is building his entire training and racing plan around being in top shape for Sydney in mid-April.
He will compete in several races around New Zealand this summer, as well as taking part in the New Zealand Cycle Classic and this season's Oceania Champs in Devonport, Australia.
"To automatically qualify [for the Olympics] I need a top 8 so pretty much everything is geared towards Sydney and making sure I set myself up for the best possible chance to qualify.
"The Olympics is massive, it's going to be huge and I'm really excited about the opportunity to try and be in that team. I know the kind of things I need to work on.
"I know I can get faster and stronger, I suppose I just have to be a little bit patient. I'm still fairly young so I just have to take it as it comes. You can't force your strength stuff, it just comes with a bit of time.”
