A conversation with Stuart Hayes
After 12 years of attempting to get selected for the Olympic Games, Stuart Hayes has finally made it. After a round of appeals the British Triathlon Federation recently announced that Hayes will indeed join the Brownlee brothers this summer in London. While this decision has caused heartache for some, the year could not go much better for Hayes. He was married to his love Michelle Dillon in February, and in August he will represent his country in the Olympic Games. He had a few words with slowtwitch to talk about the selection.
Slowtwitch: Stuart, have you been sleeping well recently?
Stuart: That is a funny question, but yes I have actually been sleeping well, and you?
ST: For sure, at least more recently. Our twin boys are now sleeping through the night and on top of that I have no anxiety about possibly being selected for the Olympic games.
Stuart: I am sleeping like a log at night at the moment too, as I am training so hard, it is amazing what a bit of motivation can do for you.
ST: When exactly did you find out that you would be indeed on the team and where were you when you got the news?
Stuart: I was like everyone else on Wednesday morning waiting for the phone call from British selectors to see if I was successful in making the London team. I was out running when the phone call actually came in, so had missed that, I called them back as soon as I got in and they told me the good news.
ST: Where you jumping up and down or were you stunned?
Stuart: Of course I was jumping up and down – it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I have been trying to make the games for 12 years and I finally made it. It is a great feeling.
ST: The rumor though had been circulating prior that it would be you and Lucy Hall.
Stuart: I didn’t expect anything at all and was very happy when I got the phone call to say I had been selected.
ST: This is your first Olympics, and on top of that it is at home. Can it be better than that?
Stuart: It really can’t get any better than this really its been a lifetime dream for me to be competing at an Olympic Games, I was reserve in 2004, I double punctured in the trials in 2008 when I was in one of my best ever shapes, I seemed to have had so much bad luck, but this time luck came my way and I was the one selected. Being a home games and competing in London makes this moment for me even more special, I’m looking forward to it.
ST: With triathlon being a free event, I guess you won't have to worry about getting tickets for friends and family.
Stuart: That’s right, it’s one of the events, which will be easier to access, which makes my support of family and friends even bigger. It is going to be great.
ST: But what about your training partner Will Clarke?
Stuart: Unfortunately for Will Clarke, he did not meet the selection criteria to go in his own right. No one did and that is why the selection came down to a discretionary situation where the selectors could pick who they liked and they selected me.
ST: To some degree it was clear that either you, Tim Don or Will would be watching instead of racing, and theoretically it could have been all three of you watching.
Stuart: That’s right it could have been all of us sitting on the sidelines watching but fortunately for me, they picked me and I am very thankful for this opportunity.
ST: Had you had any words with them since the decision was announced?
Stuart: Yes my training partner Will congratulated me.
ST: You have apparently been designated as a domestique for Alistair and Jonathan. Does that sound good to you?
Stuart: I have been selected in the GBR team as the third member to go along side Ali and Jonny to enhance our chances of winning a medal. I have had some very strong performances during this Olympic cycle, my World ranking in 2010 was 11th and I very much contributed just like anyone else to this slot through performances & ranking points, I feel worthy of my selection in this team.
ST: Is the term domestique not accurate?
Stuart: I haven’t actually been given a roll, I just been told I am selected in the team.
ST: Do Alistair and Jonathan even need help?
Stuart: I don’t know maybe you should ask them that.
ST: So what will the next few weeks look like for you?
Stuart: Well I am here there and everywhere, training in the UK and then heading to altitude over the coming weeks for my final preparation before heading to London.
ST: All well on the sponsor front?
Stuart: I have some fantastic sponsors and wouldn’t be able to do it without them to be honest. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my sponsors on this journey to my first Olympic Games. They are Team Dillon Coaching, View Hotels, Speedo, Maxifuel, BMW, Scott, Oakley, and to all those people who know have helped but may not like to be mentioned in this article, you know who you are. A big thank you goes out to them.
ST: Anything else we ought to know?
Stuart: See you at the Games!
ST: Good luck to you.
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