Hutt woman makes stellar start to triathlon career
Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) Acting Lieutenant Commander Amanda Green can’t be accused of easing her way into the triathlon scene.
The Lower Hutt woman competed in her first event, a quarter Ironman, last month. On Saturday she completed a half Ironman — the Taupo 70.3 — and now she’s training for the full Taupo Ironman in March.
Her efforts on Saturday in the 30–34 years women’s section earned her a “rolldown” spot in the 2019 Ironman 70.3 World Championships, in Nice, France, next September, something she said was unexpected and exciting.
However, she is no stranger to representing New Zealand, having played cricket for the White Ferns from 2003–05. Her cricket took her around the world, from India and Australia to Ireland and Britain.
She took up triathlon because she wanted a new challenge. She had always been a natural runner but wasn’t as comfortable on a bike, so thought that would push her outside her comfort zone.
“Sport has afforded me a lot of pretty awesome opportunities,” she said. “I just want to know what I’m capable of and how far I can push myself mentally and physically.”
It helped that wife Jen Dive has also been bitten by the triathlon bug. She also completed the quarter Ironman last month and will do a half in Taupo in March.
“It’s a pretty structured household at the moment, you could say. We enjoy it and we couldn’t do it without the support of Mum and Dad, that’s for sure,” Acting Lieutenant Commander Green said.
Father Tony Green is no stranger to military life, having spent about 30 years in the RNZN, while mother Carol Green now works for the New Zealand Defence Force.
During Mr Green’s RNZN career the family was based in Auckland. When Acting Lieutenant Commander Green was about 14 they moved to Lower Hutt, where she attended Hutt Valley High School.
Acting Lieutenant Commander Green joined the RNZN in 2007 but left in 2012 to work for Cricket New South Wales in Sydney. She specialised in operations and logistics, organising international and domestic cricket matches, including the Cricket World Cup 2015.
She rejoined last year, when she and Ms Dive moved back to Lower Hutt, to be closer to family.
The NZDF was incredibly supportive of sports people and their training needs, Acting Lieutenant Commander Green said. That team spirit was on display at the half Ironman on Saturday, where she was one of 14 NZDF personnel competing.
“I loved the atmosphere, the community, the environment — just doing something with like-minded people, something that’s a real challenge and just seeing people accomplish things they didn’t think were possible was inspiring,” she said.
