Professional triathlete Kyle Buckingham believes he still has a few years and some big performances left in his career as he prepares for a new chapter to begin in his life.
The 2022 Ironman African Champion will swap the shores of Gqeberha for the beautiful landscapes of the Grand Canyon after he confirmed his emigration to the US near the end of May.
Buckingham, a two-time IM African champion on the streets of Nelson Mandela Bay, said it had not been an easy decision to make, but had been taken with his career and family, Lauren and one-year old son Chase, in mind.
“This decision was not taken lightly, but there are a lot more opportunities for me to race over there, so I have to do what is right for my career.
“There are races almost every weekend and America has always been a place where we have spent a lot of time.
“Over the last few years we have been there for at least six months of the year until 2019.
“It is a big move for us, but we are excited and I will certainly be back in SA to defend my title in March,” he told Weekend Post exclusively this week.
Buckingham, who has been based in the metro since turning professional in 2014, said he would miss being able to train on one of the best Ironman courses across the globe.
“My triathlon career started in London as an amateur.
“I then moved to SA, being based in Cape Town, before making the move down to PE on the advice of Raynard Tissink.
“He told me it was the best place to train in SA, and it certainly was.
“Had amazing roads, the whole set-up was amazing, we had great swimming pools as well as the sea to swim.
“The roads are amazing and the run routes are always scenic.
“I love PE, and that is why I will come down for a month before the next IM African Champs to train on the course again.
“One of the things I will miss the most is just being able to go out and swim, cycle or run on the course.
“We have a beautiful setting down here. I lived out on the course in Sardinia Bay, but anyone living in PE is 10-15 mins away from being able to get out on course and have a training session,” the 39- year-old said.
Buckingham will also link up with his coach Ryan Bolton, who coaches another former Ironman African champion in Ben Hoffman, and is looking forward to putting in some hard yards alongside his new training partner.
“I still think I can reach more of a peak in my career, because I started quite late in the sport, so I think there is about three or four years of racing left in me, and much stronger performances.
“My coach will also be based pretty close by and I will also be training with Ben Hoffman, we share the same coach, so there will be about three or four guys I will be training with.
“Ben and I have trained quite well together, we have shared a few sessions, so that will be great as he is also looking forward to me getting over there,” he said.
Buckingham, who secured his Kona slot with his win in Gqeberha, said he would turn his attention to the half distance races in the next few months as he continues to build towards the IM World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, in October.
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