Image by Quinn Oconnell 

  DOB.  02-08-1977

  Weight.  59kgs

Height.  177cm

National Federation.

Triathlon New Zealand

Racing Category.  

Elite

Long Course Triathlon/70.3

Coaches. 

Greg Fraine

Tim Brazier

Tai Daniela

Qualifications.

-Law Degree (LLB), University of Otago

-Business Degree (BCom), University of Otago   

-Associate of the Trinity School of London in Classical Piano Performance (ATCL)

-Various qualifications in Real Estate and in Coaching

RESULTS

FIRST.

National Age-Group Olympic Distance Championships/Nationals (Wellington) 2008

Double Contact Energy Trophy Sprint Champion (Takapuna) 2008 & 2011

Contact Energy Cup Champion (Timaru) 2009

Double Bayfair Life Pharmacy Triathlon Champion (Mount Maunganui) 2008 & 2010

Bendon Women’s Triathlon Champion (Mount Maunganui) 2008

Double Surfbreaker Champion (Mount Maunganui) 2007 & 2009

Double Aunt Betties Sprint Champion (Mission Bay) 2007 & 2008

Contact Energy Trophy Age-Group Series Champion 2007-2008 Season

Contact Energy Trophy Age-Group Series Champion 2009-2010

Pumpkinman Triathlon Olympic Champion (Nevada) 2011

SECOND.

Oceania Elite Sprint Championships/Nationals (Kinloch) 2010

Contact Energy Cup - Elite Series 2009 - 2010 Season

World Age-Group Championships 2008

Tinman Triathlon (Mount Maunganui) 2009 & 2010

Mauao Sprint Triathlon (Mount Maunganui) 2011

Contact Energy Trophy (Rotorua) 2007

Contact Energy Trophy (Napier) 2008

THIRD.

Nataionl Elite Long Distance Championships/Nationals (Mount Maunganui)

Auckland Half Ironman 2010

Contact Energy Elite Series 2007 - 2008

Contact Energy Trophy (Rotorua) 2010

Contact Energy Trophy (Whangamata) 2008

Contact Energy Trophy (Timaru) 2008

BACKGROUND

With today’s triathletes all coming from swimming, cycling or running backgrounds Janine's introduction to the sport has been somewhat different.  Janine had no background in any sport and in her late 20s - after a bit of running to keep fit - was encouraged to complete a half marathon.  A couple of months later Janine entered into her 2nd half marathon.  To everyone's surprise, she won it!

When the Event Director asked who she was Janine said that she was ‘no-one’, that she was doing a bit of running to keep fit and that this was her 2nd race.  Intrigued with this the Director invited her to run for a sponsored triathlon team.  Janine recalls - "At this point I had only just learnt what a triathlon was with Hamish Carter winning Gold in Athens.  I had no idea how to swim, I didn't have a bike and had no idea how the swim, bike and run legs all fitted together.  It was a whole new world to me.  But there was something about coming down that finishing chute in 1st place.  It left me wanting to see if I could do a triathlon and if I could, how far I could take it".

At the age of 29 Janine joined a swimming squad, bought a bike and completed her first-Olympic Distance Triathlon. Not to do things by halves her first race was the National selection race in Wellington.  The result was good enough to secure a start at Age-Group World Triathlon Championships where Janine finished in the top-third of the 30-34 female field - in what was still only her 2nd attempt at the Olympic Distance. 

Following the World Championships Janine went onto complete her first-ever, full New Zealand Triathlon Season.  She podiumed in 5 out of 6 events in the National Series to finish 3rd overall Elite Female and as 1st overall Age-Group Female.  She made a clean-winning sweep of every local triathlon she competed in.  Then in Wellington one year after her 1st Olympic Distance Triathlon Janine won her first National Olympic Distance title - finishing some 4 and a half minutes clear of the entire women’s field.  

Since then Janine has collected multiple titles, won many local races, made the podium in the National Elite Series on a number of occasions, medalled at the Age-Group World Championships and podiumed at a number of National Championships events.  

Last year Janine made the move to longer distances and after two attempts at this distance was selected to represent New Zealand at the Elite level at the ITU World Championships.

 Image by Quinn Oconnell