Surf lifesaving champion Danielle Richards has swapped the racing cap for the coach's clipboard, becoming one of New Zealand’s first female professional coaches at club level.
The five-time Ironwoman winner is now coaching at Omanu Surf Club in Mount Maunganui, alongside fellow legend Cory Hutchings.
"Being able to share our knowledge with the kids in the future generation of the surf club's pretty awesome," Richards told 1News.
"[Cory and I] coach really similar – he's so good with the kids and I've learned a lot off him."
Richards’ appointment as assistant coach is having a significant impact, with more girls than ever signing up to the Bay of Plenty club.
"There's not a lot of female coaches in our sport… so I think just for the mentoring and just the bonding that she does, it's awesome," Hutchings said.
Richards added: "You can really see the young girls really enjoying themselves at training… I hope to be a good leader."
The role comes after many years of competing, most recently switching from surf sports to kayaking.
Richards trained with the national squad at Lake Pupuke, but just fell short of qualifying for the Paris Olympics.
"It's really hard to come back from," she said.
"But I think the people that you surround yourself with, your family and friends, and finding what you love about sport really helps me to come back on top."
But Richards isn’t hanging up her competitor rash shirt just yet, hinting her body "still has quite a few years left".
She stopped short of saying which event she’ll be returning to, however.
SHARE ME