AustrAliAn triAthlete | 37Tim Reed
ground. Perhaps being married to a doctor
maintains a sense of reality unbefitting to
others immersed completely in the minute
introspective community that is triathlon.
Whatever the reason for his embarrassed
humility, his answers to my questions
demonstrate that Tim is far more than a
fast triathlete - he is a thinking,
emotionally intelligent student of not only
his trade but of life in general.
‘We sometimes get put on a pedestal
for others to admire when I know that,
at least in my case, I’m a person with
many flaws. Ironically, these flaws, such
as my anxiety, obsessive nature and
selfishness (less so then it used to be to
be fair on myself), can prove very useful
in advancing in professional sport.
I remember when Cadel Evans won
the Tour de France. Journalist Mia
Freedman commented something along
the lines that she appreciated that it
was a great achievement but felt that it
was an overreaction given so many
people in the community are working
tirelessly, largely for the benefit of
others such as nurses and teachers for
relatively rubbish pay and receive no
public recognition. Freedman was
harpooned by the public and the rest of
the media for those comments, yet I
remember very clearly agreeing with
everything she said. People made out
like Cadel winning Le Tour was a selfless
act done for his country. While an
incredible feat that I definitely admire, I
believe it was far more likely a bloke
with a single-minded focus doing what
he loved for himself and his family.’
Tim’s views are honest but not
revolutionary. A life lived in sport, amongst
the very fast, can often quickly educate
oneself about true values, morals and
behaviour. Society can nurture a tendencyto award questionable heroes by
achievement and ignore their more
dubious behaviour. And Tim is not blind to
the honourable traits that professional
sport ingrains in a character; commitment,
dedication, courage, sacrifice and
hardiness but those obsessions come at a
cost, and that cost is easily forgotten.GRIT AND DETERMINATION: Sprint for second place at Ironman 70.3 Western Sydney, 2017.TRAINING: There’s alot of alone time.