Macca is a regular contributor on the transitions (an Oz tri site).

Now all can see why he sold his bike...The man is trying the fix the downward spiral of triathlon in Australia. Atleast someone is Triathlon Australia seem incapable.

Quote:

"Hi Everyone,

My bike sold to a nice collector friend of mine out of Los Angeles. His name is Derek and he runs the website k226.com. He is a top bloke and a big fan of the sport of triathlon. He also works extensively in junior development of athletes in Los Angeles out of the LA Triathlon club, so it was a perfect match. It is incredible the support and programs he has put together out of LA and in a few years you will see the fruits of his labour. It is inspiring, but made me think about home and the juniors in Australia.

I hope to build a similar program in Australia and the USA to help juniors in this sport. Without the juniors this sport has no future and I would like to do something as the sport has been so rewarding for myself. I think it is the greatest sport in the world and the growth of it everywhere else in the world except Australia is baffling to me.

Just to answer all the speculation about other things written on this topic in another topic on this site, my sponsors are very happy with everything that happened in Kona and supportive of the initiatives we are putting into place next year outside my racing commitments. Shimano and Rudy Project are happy as hell and hopefully onboard with the initiative I am trying to set up. You have no idea what you are talking about.

Anyway hopefully people on this site can get involved a little and help give back to the young athletes in the sport of triathlon. To "chase the dream" is what it is all about, but sometimes outside influences and finance can inhibit some from getting this chance. I hope to aid a little with the scholarship fund I am trying to set up, and hopefully people on here, who have a bit of money, and love this sport, might get on board to support this good cause. We will see. It is only with support that the program will grow.

The feedback from people in the USA has basically been, "why should my USA based sponsors support an initiative that is set up on foreign shores." They are right. Why should they? Is it not the responsibility of local sponsors and local industry to support these athletes? This is why my sponsors are pushing me to set up this initiative in the USA and they are open to work more extensively with me then. They know this is the future and they know that they will benefit in the long run from this support with new emerging talent. I feel the need to help young Aussies. I was one of them not too long ago looking up to the Michellie Jones’s and the Greg Welch's. It is expensive and hard to get support at home and with no role models racing at home anymore they have no one to even aspire to be like.

The sad thing is this is the very reason my wife and I had to relocate to the USA, because this is where it is. Some will remember I actually got crucified on this site for doing so. Australia was once the global powerhouse for triathlon and triathlon racing. I wish I could live at home in Australia and race out of my country. Crowie, Walto, Bennett, Jones, Ashton, Granger, Atkinson, Snowsill and myself are products of this old era but we are getting older ourselves. Who is coming to pick up the mantle? Think about it!!!!

Unfortunately over the past few years this has become more and more difficult. What chances do the young guys and girls have in our country without role models at home within the sport and a series of races to compete in. It is sad. Bring back the F1 series and the big domestic races at home. Where have they gone? Bring back anything for them to race in. Bring back something for us to race in, so we can do it at home aswell.

I see it around the world and the programs in place. We are being left behind in a huge way and it is our juniors who will be the ones who feel it. The playing field is becoming less and less fair as the support overseas both in house and privately is enormous in these programs and the support at home is non-existent.

So instead of all the what if's and the negative talk about sponsors or issues with my bike or my equipment and grape vine gossip about things you know nothing about, lets try and build something at home where we can pull local support to help the young aspiring triathletes at home get over here and take on the world. I believe our talent pool is the deepest in the world but fear that many of these athletes will never get their chance to shine. This is why I am trying to set up this scholarship program and would love to get local support. This is the tragedy of triathlon in our country. I had to sell my bike; I won my World title on, in order to raise money for this, because I see the urgency of it.

Hopefully the people here on this site, who see themselves as the eyes and ears of the sport in our country, see the same thing. Pee Pee, you have some influence, how about you help out. Hellman, you have a company that supports triathlon, how about you kick in. Anyone out there who can help, we are open to it. Lets see how deep your passion for this sport really is. My love and passion for this sport is enough, that I did not question selling my World Championship winning bike for this cause.

Sorry to ramble on but its the truth,

Stay Safe

Macca"