After 20 years of elite triathlon competition, Sunday was the final time David McNamee would take the tape as a professional. And what a race and place he chose to do it.
The British star – twice a podium finisher at the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona – went out right at the very top in the Grand Final of the first ever T100 season in Dubai.
David, now 36 years old, came home in 12th position as he ended his career at the highest level by holding off fast-finishing American Jason West.
As he stood at the finish line and took in the moment and the surroundings, he spoke of Sunday’s race, and what it had meant for him.
David McNamee on the ‘Last Dance’
“Very hard, like every race I did over the last 20 years. But yeah for my final race ever, we’re standing here at the finish line, the Burj Khalifa is in the background, I don’t think there’s any more scenic a place that I could have thought about finishing my career.
“Incredible racing – the standard just gets better and better. I can’t wait to be a spectator next year because it’s only going to get faster and faster.”
David spoke about the factors which went into his decision to retire now, and essentially it came to what has always been his greatest desire – to race against the very best and to be competitive doing so.
Why now for retirement?
“I went back and forth this entire year, whether to retire or not. As much as I love the sport, I think I’ve just lost that extra little bit of drive that you need to be the very best in the world, and my body’s also starting to show its wear and tear.
“I’m still here competing – maybe not at the front – but against the best athletes in the world, and I want to go out and retire whilst I’m still able to be here competing. And I think if I kept pushing it and pushing it, I think I wouldn’t be able to maintain this level.
“For me, I couldn’t have thought of a better ending to be honest, than finishing the Grand Final of the inaugural T100 Tour. I just couldn’t visualise a better ending if I kept it going for the next couple of years. That was ultimately I think what sealed the decision, was getting to finish my last race at the highest level.
“Since being a kid I’ve always wanted to race against the best in the world and here I am. I’m not on the podium, but I can still fight it out with them, so it’s a great way to finish.”
When the realisation hit
McNamee admitted he had not really thought about the fact it was his final race until he got a jolting reminder in the closing stages of the run.
“I tried to not really think about it until I passed someone with about a kilometre to go and they shouted ‘this is the last ever kilometre you’ll do in your life’. Maybe racing-wise yes but I still intend to keep on running. That kind of shook me but I knew Jason was chasing me hard, so it wasn’t really until the final 100 metres when I knew I’d end up finishing 12th that I really relaxed and took it all in.
“That’s when it sort of hits you that it’s the last time you’ll ever get that feeling of crossing a finish line absolutely exhausted.”
As well as being a brilliant professional with elite results to boot, David has been one of the sport’s most respected and loved figures during the past two decades. He also is one of triathlon’s most fascinating voices, with insight on all major topics.
He says he will take a break before deciding what comes next, absolutely well deserved, and we all hope he will remain in the sport in some capacity. The very happiest of retirements!
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