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RYAN O'NEILL
DATE OF BIRTH: 3rd October 1976
BORN: Portsmouth, United Kingdom
LIVES: Dee Why, NSW
NICKNAME: Rhino
MARTIAL STATUS: Single
HEIGHT: 183CM
WEIGHT: 80KG
ALTERNATIVE OCCUPATION: Consultant Senior Appointment for Financial Sponsor Peoplebank
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
- 7th French Olympic Distance Championships
- 9th Australian Sprint Championships
- 12th Asian Olympic Distance Championships
FUTURE GOALS IN TRIATHLON:
- Win Australian Long Course Champs
- Win ITU Points Race
- Top 10 in an ITU World Cup
YEARS IN TRIATHLON: 5YRS (2001)
COACH: Grant Giles (Aeromax coaching)
TRAINING PARTNERS: Pete Jacobs, Cameron Good, Tim Prowse, Simon Thompson, Dave Dellow
HOW I SPEND MY DOWNTIME: I still love to surf whenever there’s a good swell running, although with all the training it can be hard to find the time. Failing that I enjoy hanging out in my favorite coffee shop reading the papers and watching the world go by.
FAVOURITE TRIATHLON/S: Holten (Netherlands) for the screaming crowds and Byron Bay (Australia) for the post race relaxation.
MOTTO TO LIVE BY: It’s not the destination but the journey baby!
BIO
Coming from the UK it’s hard to see how Ryan has ended up as a professional triathlete. Enrolled into a swimming club at an early age he was soon representing his county at national level from the ages of 10 through to 16. However 10 years swimming had slowly lost its appeal and, in a search for something new, he took to the athletics track. It wasn’t long before Ryan had found a new passion in the 400m. After only 3 years he was again competing at the top of this very competitive sport, racing in IAAF meetings throughout Europe. After relocating to Amsterdam and under the guidance of a new coach, several big results followed. However another changing direction was around the corner as his athletics career was cut short, suffering an accident that was to put an end to a promising talent.
Following this incident he then moved to Australia to get the best treatment possible, but after finding out that there was no chance of a full recovery he was told to find another sport. So throwing him self into the deep end again Ryan bought a bike and took up the new, exciting sport of triathlon. As with swimming a running before success quickly followed, winning every race of the Australian age group series in his first year he decided to make the next step to race on the professional circuit. With triathlon being a high profile, televised sport in Australia, he was soon making the most of his colorful personality, backing this up on the race course with some impressive results. Together this combination was making him a well known figure amongst the pro and age group athletes.After another season on the domestic season it was time to head OS to Europe and Asia racing a number of high profile ITU events and gaining a mixture of results. Now in his 5th year in the sport, under the guidance and support of his coach, Rhino is starting to again find the form that pushed him onto the triathlon scene with a Bang!
23/10/06
RYAN O'NEILL RACE REPORT - MAITLAND TRIATHLON 1.5/55/12
With the start of the 2006/2007 triathlon season upon us, Professional and age group competitors alike are quickly deciding what will become the focus of their months of winter training. After several seasons competing in the ITU short course races, I have decided to take a slightly different approach over the coming 6 months. The main focus for me will be simply competing and producing a podium in as many races as possible, in order to more actively promote the great companies that have been fantastic in supporting me over the last few years. Together with this will be a Tri talk series comprising presentations to 10 national based organisation competing in the JP Morgan corporate challenge and the BRW triathlon.
To kick of Ryan's Roving Race Regime, I headed up the Pacific Highway to the beautiful Hunter Valley and the Maitland Triathlon. The event has grown over the years into a very popular race on the calendar, Starting on the banks of the Hunter River the course covers the rolling country side around the historic port of Morpeth.
With a 1500m swim, 55km bike and a 12km run the race was set up to cater for those with a strong bike leg who could hold on in the run. With a good field of professionals including Nathan Campbell fresh from securing a silver medal in the U23 World Championships, Boyd Conrick, Paul Ambrose, Stephen Nicholson and Cam Good who were all returning after a season burning up the European races.
As the gun sounded it was head down into the murky brown waters of the Hunter and swim like crazy for the first 300m to the first buoy, before heading the 1200m down stream and around the Morpeth bridge. Deciding to take a more relaxed approach to the race, after being sick all week, I was happy to find that I was in a good rhythm just off the lead group of 4 and still within touching distance off the lead. After fading a little towards the end of the swim, I quickly made up the places with a fast transition to be 5th onto the road.
The bike was always going to be hard and fast, now I had to make it that bit harder and faster by chasing down the leaders. With Cam Good in tow it was foot to the floor stuff and after 10km I had them in sight, however just before catching them there was a sudden surge that I couldn't counter and Conrick, Campbell and Ambrose dropped Nicholson to open up a 30 second gap. With the race being run in a non drafting format both Good and Nicholson seemed content to sit behind me for the rest of the ride and wait for the run. Feeling the pressure to bridge that 30 seconds I didn't give up the chase and finally caught the 3 leaders with 15km to go. However no sooner where we back together when all 3 took a wrong turn which would eventually cost them at least a minute to make up.
Seizing the opportunity I broke away and charged into T2 with a 20 second lead and after another good transition had extended that further. There's nothing like making you run out of your skin, like a group of great runners chasing you down! 2,3,4km passed and I started to feel as though I was in control, but then, out of no where I was quickly passed by both Good and Nicholson after enjoying their free ride on the bike. Determined not to give up without a fight I managed to pull back and pass Good but Nicholson was to strong running on to claim the win. Despite being passed for 3rd by a fast finishing Chris Stanton, it was a great day and a great result.
Next up on the race plan with be Australia's oldest Triathlon, the Panthers Nepean on the 29th October. Look for another top 3!!!
Thanks again for all your on going support
Ryan O'Neill
Professional Triathlete
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