From the Olympics to real estate : Two cyclists ' journeys
BY CASSANDRA GLOVER
Ray White Blenheim rural property expert Graeme Miller ’ s previous career as a professional cyclist saw him travel the world and become a four-time Olympyian .
He competed at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics , 1988 Seoul Olympics , 1992 Barcelona Olympics and was also selected for the 1980 Olympics in Moscow .
Graeme also competed in five Commonwealth Games , winning two gold medals at the 1990 Commonwealth games in Auckland , a silver at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh and another silver at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane . He was also the flag bearer and team captain at Kuala Lumpur in 1998 . we were set to leave , I had a phone call to say we were not allowed to go ,” Graeme said .
But that mental challenge did not stop him from training and going on to participate at three later Olympic Games .
“ I loved the sport from day one and never , over the 30 years of being a cyclist , did I ever fail to do my training ,” Graeme said .
Graeme said a highlight for him was placing eighth at the Seoul Olympics in 1988 , and while he wasn ’ t happy with the result at the time , looking back he can appreciate it was a huge achievement .
“ Another highlight was finishing third in the USA Pro Champs 265km race which Lance Armstrong won ,” he said .
He also competed at the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane in 1982 where he claimed the bronze medal .
“ We were living in Mt Albert above a shop and , when I was 10 , my 15 year-old neighbour was a cyclist . I used to go up there most days and watch him clean his bike , I was hooked ,” Roger said .
“ When I was 12 my parents bought me a bike , but it wasn ’ t a racing bike , so I picked strawberries all summer to buy my first racing bike for $ 50 .
“ I participated in my first race when I was 13 . I came last , but the second race I won .”
He said in 1980 he got a coach who changed the course of his career , leading the next six years to be very successful ones . He made the LA Olympic Games in 1984 for the road race .
Roger followed his passion for cycling to Europe .
“ I left for Holland in 1976 and went there every year until 1980 , followed by 1981 , 1982 , and 1984 which were spent in Italy ,” he said .
“ I started cycling as a 15 year old in Blenheim ,” Graeme said .
“ After a snapped achilles , I was told to ride a bike as part of my rehabilitation , and a school mate said come to the local velodrome , which I did , and it all started from there .
“ I did two Olympics on the velodromes and two on the road .
“ I raced for 30 years at a high level and loved the challenge both mentally and physically . I won over 200 races all around the world .”
Graeme was selected for his first Olympics in Moscow in 1980 at just 19 years old , but was unable to participate as New Zealand was one of many countries which boycotted that Olympics .
“ I think that was one of the biggest mental battles I ever had as one day I was selected and off to the Olympics , and about three weeks later , the day before
After a terrible cycling accident in 2002 which required a major back operation , Graeme ’ s cycling career came to an end at 42 years old . But he has now found a new passion for real estate .
“ Being a top sports person and working in real estate are very similar as you need the same motivation and dedication for both , plus you need a strong team and team support ,” he said .
“ Ray White was a natural fit for me once I came home to Blenheim .
“ It ’ s a great team here in Blenheim and the Ray White machine that supports us is amazing .”
Ray White Orewa agent Roger Sumich ’ s road cycling career led him to travel all over the world , even competing at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games .
Roger was also selected for the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow , but similar to Graeme ’ s story was unable to compete due to the boycott .
Roger said his time in Holland and Italy was a major highlight of his cycling career , even learning to speak both languages .
After ending his career in 1986 , Roger bought and sold a home in Howick which led him to take an interest in real estate .
“ I love real estate and we have owned many properties over the years ,” he said .
“ I love selling , love it when both vendors and buyers win , love referral business .
“ Ray White Orewa is a great little office and the Hibiscus Coast market is a powder keg ready to explode in the coming years as it is still undervalued .”
39