At 27, Terenzo Bozzone’s career reads like an athlete’s twice his age. With five junior and world championships and countless national records under his belt, as well as gut-wrenching lows such as missing out on Olympic selection, his life as a professional athlete has been a roller coaster ride. But after two years blighted by injury, Terenzo’s back, raring and ready to conquer his next competition, the Nutri-Grain Ironman New Zealand in Taupo this month.
“I’ve got that hunger in my belly now. It fuelled the fi re and I’m ready to redeem myself,” he says. After finishing second in the New Zealand leg last year, surgery to his Achilles tendon prevented the sportsman competing in the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii – a blow that’s made him even more determined to this year take on the best triathletes in the world.
Terenzo says 2012 is his year and he’s relying on his biggest supporter – his mum Diane – to help him win another world title. The cheeky sportsman, who appeared on realty TV show Celebrity Treasure Island in 2004, is quick to admit he wouldn’t be where he is today without the support of Diane.
“I couldn’t have accomplished what I have without her,” he says as he grins at his mum. “She’s always there if you need her and if you don’t need her, she’s still there!” he jokes. “Well, maybe sometimes,” Diane smiles.
The two have remarkably similar personalities. They’re both determined, focused, crave chocolate a little too much and love to gently tease each other. “He’s crazy,” Diane says of Terenzo’s love of long distance racing that others might liken to torture. “Yeah, I am,” he says as he explains his current training schedule of 900km of cycling and 160km of running a week.
“But you have to be to do what I do and my personality is that I have to be the best at whatever I do. I can’t just be mediocre.” The two have an immensely close bond, stemming from years working together to get Terenzo where he needed to be. He only moved out of the family home in November last year.
“I’ve just moved into this place,” he grins, looking around at his gorgeous new home on Auckland’s North Shore, which is conveniently located two minutes from the beach. And while he does miss his mum washing his socks, it’s cleaning his own bike that Terenzo has to get used to. “Living here is great, but at home Dad would always have my back if my bike was dirty and the next morning it would be clean… that makes me feel lazy!” he laughs.
For years, Diane acted as chief cheerleader, coach, nutritionist and counsellor as Terenzo battled to be the best triathlete in New Zealand, a role she says wasn’t without its difficulties. “I had to learn pretty fast, especially after he got competitive. We had to figure out how to balance everything and try and have a bit of fun along with all the training.”
It was Diane’s unwavering support that helped Terenzo get through his injury woes and missing out on selection for the Beijing Olympics in 2008. “Trying to get over that was tough. I had a good year before and I thought I would be in the team, but it didn’t happen,” he says.
“It was heartbreaking,” recalls Diane. “We were ready to book the tickets to go and see him, and then the phone call came – it was devastating.” Terenzo’s not one to dwell on the negatives though and has since made the switch from short-form triathlons to the longer course races, which aren’t included in the Olympics, but he still feels he’s “found his niche”.
“Everything happens for a reason. If I did get into the Olympics, I wouldn’t have won an Ironman title at the end of that year and I wouldn’t be doing Ironman now,” he says. And of course, Mum’s always there with her support. “She’s been away with me heaps,” he says.
“It’s amazing watching him in competition,” says Diane. “But it’s so nervewracking. Seeing him win a world title, that was…” “Two! You saw two world titles,” interjects Terenzo. “Oh, I did. You’re right. Oops,” she says sheepishly.
“But no, he’s amazing. He probably should learn to toughen up a bit and say no to people sometimes, but he just wants to achieve at the highest level and make people proud. And that’s awesome.”
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
