Fernando Alarza: "When I return to competitions it will be to win, and if I'm not here I'll step aside"
Fernando Alarza speaks for the first time after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Nine months after the Olympic Games and on the occasion of the presentation of the new Austral line for the Triarmada and Paratriarmada for the next two seasons, we have been with Fernando Alarza , who had not spoken to anyone after the Tokyo Olympic Games that were held in the capital of Japan last July 2021.
Fernando returns to the world of triathlon after a global pandemic, Covid 19, a time of some uncertainty and adding an Olympic Games where he gave everything.
The man from Talavera gives us an assessment of his performance on the day of the competition at the Games, for him one of the best races of his life.
He also shared his plans for 2022 , a calmer year for him in terms of competition, which he is taking as a sabbatical to focus on his family and his professional future, becoming a National Police officer.
Fernando told us that he will return to competitions, but only if he can be champion or fight for podium finishes , and if not, he will make way for younger riders.
He is also willing to teach them and transmit all the experiences that the sport has given him, planning to go as coach of the Spanish triathlon team to the European Cup in Olsztyn, Poland, at the end of this month.
Fernando Alarza had not spoken since the end of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and he began talking about that day with us: “ When we finished the Games event, for my part, I was quite happy because analyzing the performance it was the best I could do that day, even in terms of data it was the best race of my life .”
He then explained what his life will be like from now on: “ I have to start setting new goals for the future because this isn't forever, and you have to have something beyond this. In my planning for this season, 2021 was supposed to be a sabbatical year, a quieter time before everything with Covid happened, and I've had to postpone it to 2022.”
And this moment has arrived. Making the decision was difficult, but not as difficult as I thought it would be. Perhaps I was already too overwhelmed, and it was an easy decision, allowing me to focus on something I've wanted since I was little. My passion has always been to be a National Police officer.
Regarding his return to triathlon, he says something very clear: “ I will continue to do international races as long as I can be on the world circuit, but I consider myself a winner and the moment I don't see myself as a winner on the world circuit, I will step aside; I won't be there until they kick me out.”
If I believe that by stepping aside I will help the team continue to grow, I will do it without hesitation .”
Furthermore, he has great faith in the current generation and shares encouraging words about triathlete Antonio Serrat , currently number 1 in the world ranking, who at 27 years old begins his season in the Yokohama World Series next Saturday, May 14: “I have blind faith in Serrat, the only thing Serri lacks is to touch the medal.
The moment you touch the medal, it seems like you lose that fear of winning, and I think Serri has that .”
Finally, as an exclusive, he excitedly tells us that he has already planned to go as coach of the Spanish triathlon team to the European Cup in Olsztyn, Poland to try to pass on all his experience to the athletes: “ As a coach, I want to contribute many things, to know the needs that the athlete may have before he asks for it, after so many years competing and traveling, I really know what the athlete wants .”
