The President and national coach of the Apia Triathlon Club, Bernie Poort and ironman Darren Young are preparing the national triathlon team for the Pacific Games. 

Mr Poort said training has been profound lately but the focus is the Pacific Games 2023 and other international events in the year.

"Whilst most of us are still in bed, our national triathlon squad have commenced training for what will be a long and exciting campaign of local and international events," he said.

Mr Poort said he is excited by the enthusiasm of Samoa's athletes so far.

“It’s a long season, and we have had some very wet early morning sessions with plenty of smiles.  The opportunities presenting this year are huge for our young squad following our invitation to the World Cycling Championships in Sydney last year. This year we will be taking a Samoan representative team to Glasgow, Scotland in August, Tahiti for the Pacific Cup championships in September and of course the South Pacific Games in Solomon islands in November," he said.

"Locally there will be plenty of events each month leading up to our National Selection trials in June. Samoa events are also planning some huge events right here in Samoa bringing international athletes here including the Samoa Swim Series, Warrior Triathlon, Savaii Marathon and the Tour of Samoa Cycling Race back again.

"Triathlon is a grueling sport and to be competitive you need to be proficient in swimming, cycling and distance running combined with an enormous amount of stamina and shear will." 

According to Mr Poort, the extended squad have commenced two months of base fitness under the guidance of Darren Young and himself. Reverend Ata Mulitalo has also been assisting with the swimmming.

"Rain, hail or shine the squad’s training week consists of 5.00am run sessions Monday, Wednesday and Friday," he said.

"Ocean swimming from Taumeasina Island Resort at 4:30pm Tuesday and Thursday’s, and then cycling at Muliu’nu at 6.00am on Saturdays." 

Poort said they only rest on Sundays.

"April, we will move into a four week block focusing on endurance and strength and then a final block on speed and the 4th discipline of triathlon known as transition (time taken to switch from one discipline to another - ie, swim to bike or bike to run)," he added.

"Our very own Darren Young will compete in New Zealand Ironman Championship in Taupo next weekend hoping to breakthrough the 11 hour barrier. 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and to finish a punishing 42.2km run. Very few people are capable of completing a single ironman, Darren will be aiming to complete his 12th Ironman race."

"The 2019 triathlon team was the first team to win a triathlon medal in the Pacific Games in the mixed teams' event. We think we can do better in Honiara. 

"We want to do better in Honiara, the team will target three to four medals at SOL2023." 

"We have a stronger athlete and preparation base now than in 2019. The sport has grown since 2019, we have more athletes vying for positions. There is more competition for spots.

"We have also grown as a federation. We now have a satellite club in Māngere, South Auckland. We have local and international athletes."