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ABOUT KYLE SMITH

Whether racing short or long, off-road or on, in searing heat or chilled to the bone, Kyle backs himself to adapt, compete and thrive in triathlon. It should come as little surprise. Born as the youngest of three brothers in Blackburn, UK his father a bricklayer and mother a community worker, the value of hard work was instilled from a young age. With older siblings Aaron and Ryan representing GB in motocross and modern pentathlon respectively, Kyle was also brought up on multisport.

In 2010, when aged 12 he moved with his family to New Zealand’s north island, that enthusiasm was embraced by the Taupo community and triathlon was added to broadening athletic CV. Kyle felt privileged to race in the Silver Fern and his talent quickly shone through.

In 2013 and only old enough to be eligible by a handful of days, he finished runner-up in the junior age-group world championships in London. By 2015, he was training with the New Zealand Olympic squad.

As with so many developing athletes, there were injury and health setbacks along the way, but a stint of off-road XTERRA racing in 2017 resulted in being crowned world Under-23 champion and placing third in the senior division – while still a teenager. Kyle spent the next two years learning his trade on the ITU circuit culminating in an 11th place in the world Under-23 championship in Lausanne in 2019. But it was a taste of long course racing back home in New Zealand three months later that really sparked the imagination.

A win and course record on debut at Ironman 70.3 Taupo after only four weeks of training was the start of five successive victories over the middle distance before an impressive third place on Ironman debut in New Zealand in 2021.

In 2022, Kyle continued to increase his profile and produce notable performances, opening the season with an impressive second-place in 70.3 Lanzarote and then finishing 11th in his first Ironman World Championship after being first off the bike and leading on to the marathon. Late 2022 and 2023 were affected by illness, later discovered to be caused by mould in his accommodation in Girona, Spain. During this time, Kyel struggled for his top form but still managed to record a ninth place finish in Canada and then matched that feat the following May in Ibiza where he again led into T2 against a star-studded field containing three Olympic champions.

Having got to grips with the cause of his illness, Kyle returned to form late 2023 to take two dominates wins over the middle distance at 70.3 Ironman Ireland and on home soil in 70.3 Ironman Taupo, with another course record. Showing once again that Kyle can compete with the very best.

For 2024 onwards Kyle is focussed on the 70.3, middle and long distance. Key targets for 2024 include aiming for a home win at the 70.3 Ironman World Championships on the same course he won on in 2023. Mid-year he will also target full distance success and the famed Challenge Roth event in Germany.