NZ twin Zane Robertson posted on IG yesterday that he is retiring:
"Sometimes I post here sometimes I don’t. The last 3 years haven’t been great for me on and off the track/roads. A lot of people/companies involved in almost making me lose interest in the sport completely. A lot of things going on outside the sport also, people sometimes forget that we are humans before we are athletes! I’m enjoying running for what it is, fun, enjoyment, fitness, runners high. I’m not a professional runner anymore although I’m still keeping up with the best. I have no plans on future events currently."
Now, I love the story of them both moving out to Africa at such a young age and fully going for it. Zane ends his career currently the quicker of the two twins (except the 10,000m) and with more accolades:
3:34.19 / 3:53.72 / 7:41.37 / 13:13.83 / 27:33.67
27:28 / 46:29 / 59:47 (AR) / 2:08:19 (NR)
> 2x World Champs Finalist (2013, 5000m - 14th & 2014 Indoors, 3000m - 12th)
> 2014 Commonwealth Games 5000m - Bronze
> 2014 World Continental Cup 5000m - Silver
> 2x Olympian (2016, 12th in 10,000m & 2021, 36th in Marathon)
> Notably in 2015 (pre-super shoes) became only the 4th ever non-African to break 60mins
> 3rd at Gold Coast Marathon
Question: judging from the times and accolades Zane is finishing his career with, do you think the move was worth it?
On one hand people will say they were never truly competitive, maybe similar could have been achieved back home or in the U.S., on the other hand maybe they needed the move just to get to the level they reached? I'm interested to get people's thoughts because honestly I thought they both had 2:06-2:05 potential, and as a fan I'm disappointed to see it end before they maybe truly reached their potential. Quite Wanders-esque where we've seen some killer workouts over the years that never really translated into race performances