Hayden Wilde – My Place - a Kia Ora Magazine story
New Zealand triathlete star and Olympian talks about his love for his hometown Whakatāne.
This article first appeared in Kia Ora Magazine, April 2025.
When I was little, we travelled around a lot. My dad was a pilot, so we followed his work and lived in Taupō, Cambridge and Hawke’s Bay before we settled in Whakatāne when I was seven. I was stoked to live right next to Ōhope Beach, one of the most beautiful places in Aotearoa. I have lived here for 20 years, and being by the beach just feels like home.
I am the youngest of three brothers and we are all pretty competitive. We want to beat each other at everything. I was either the punching bag, or on a team with one of my older bros. My brothers would tell you that being the youngest I was mum’s favourite and the golden child.
We were outdoors every day until the sun went down. I remember at Ōhope Beach Primary School our principal would play rugby with us at lunchtime. Everything revolved around sport and that fostered my love of competing from a young age. I loved soccer and hockey growing up and I got into running in my teenage years. I only took up triathlon after watching the 2016 Rio Olympics and it sparked something in me.
The beaches around Whakatāne and Tauranga, and the lakes throughout Taupō and Rotorua, were an ideal playground for adventure racing and training. I started entering events and realised I was pretty good. There is no doubt that the community in Whakatāne shaped me into the person I am today.
The Eastern Bay, we've got such an amazing Olympic medal count – the likes of [Dame] Lisa Carrington, Stacey Waaka, Mahina Paul, me and before us Sarah Walker. I always get asked, what do you think it is. It’s just because we have a little community that's super supportive and everyone wants to be the best.
My parents have always been my biggest supporters. I don't come from a super wealthy family, so for them to support me overseas is always hard. Their first race abroad was the Paris Olympics which was special as I knew the sacrifices they had made to be there. I worked for everything I got growing up. I am proud of that. I worked for my uncle in Greymouth, part-time in a shoe store, and as a landscaper. I worked hard for a few months to save up enough money to get to Asia or Europe to compete.
We’ve got some nice spots across Whakatāne and Ōhope Beach that I hit up when I’m home. You’ll probably see me getting a coffee from Volk and Co - Coffee Brew Bar on Boon Street in Whakatāne. They make a beauty of a brew. I love Detour. They do all sorts of food, but my favourite is the Surf and Turf, and their portions are out the gate. It’s cool having dinner and walking it off along the Whakatāne River. I love Cadera, it’s a Mexican place on Ōhope Beach. It's a good vibe and amazing food.
I always forget that I’ve won a couple of Olympic medals, and the locals think that is a big deal. They freak out a little bit. Sometimes they give us a free round, which is great. My brothers love it. The people here love to support me and if I can give back, I always will.
It’s awesome going for a bike down to West End or walking over to Ōtarawairere Beach. That’s a little gem and it is hard to get to. It’s a good little spot to just relax and take in the view. My brothers and I love our golf. The Ōhope Beach Links course is amazing and only five minutes from home is the Whakatāne Golf Club which is always in perfect condition.
My partner Hanne is from Belgium. We love going down to the South Island and exploring our country. She loved the beauty of Wānaka, and we can’t wait to get back there.
Reflecting on Paris, I have been asked a million times what it was like on the home stretch of the race. Of course I was disappointed to come up just short, but I was proud to win another medal for New Zealand and happy for my good mate Alex. That photo of my arm around him at the finish line went around the world. It just felt like the right thing to do. It’s important to me to be a good person in victory and defeat.
I am looking forward to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics where I will do my best to win gold and complete the set.
Nothing beats that feeling of coming home. You drop out of the clouds, and you can see it’s a beautiful day on the coast. I get butterflies in my stomach.
Walking off the plane, it is like this weight is lifted off my shoulders. Just breathing in the air and knowing I’ll be seeing my family and all the boys; it is the one of the best sensations in the world. I love this place more than I can put into words.
