Family cheers on Warwick-born athlete Harry Sweeny to Tour de France glory

‘He told us at five or six he was going to be a champion’: Forced to watch her son compete in cycling’s biggest race from the other side of the world, one proud mum reveals the highs and lows of success.

Warwick-born athlete Harry Sweeny (centre) with mum Kristy and sister Georgia before competing in his first World Championships in Richmond.

When Warwick-born athlete Harry Sweeny told his mother Kristy at age five he “was going to be a champion”, she never imagined she would soon be watching her son compete in one of the world’s biggest events.

Twenty-two-year-old Sweeny will this month race alongside cycling’s best in the 2021 Tour de France as part of the Lotto Soudal World Tour team, only six months into his pro career.

Hearing their son’s name in race commentary while watching anxiously from their Sunshine Coast home on the other side of the world is a “pinch me” moment for proud parents Kristy and Glenn Sweeny, but not a totally unexpected one.

Mrs Sweeny said Harry was drawn to sports his entire life, from riding his bike around the backyard at Two-and-a-half years old to balancing schoolwork with 20 hours of triathlon training a week.

“He started off as a swimmer and went to some state titles, then got a bit bored and decided he wouldn’t mind trying the tri,” she said.

Harry Sweeny began his athletic career as a triathlete throughout his school years. Picture: Kristy Sweeny

“Getting him to training early in the morning and often twice a day was pretty rugged, but he was never someone you needed to help get out of bed.

“His coach said to him that if he didn’t make it as a triathlete then he’d make it as a cyclist, because he showed a lot of talent.”

A hip stress fracture in his early teens was the final push for Sweeny to make the switch to cycling, and by Year 12 the dedicated athlete was heading to his first world championships in Richmond, US.

The cyclist competed in several championships and another two world titles before signing with the Lotto Soudal team at the beginning of this year, and it was only months later he earned a spot in the club’s Tour de France squad.

Warwick alumni Harry Sweeny competing as part of the Lotto Soudal World Tour team in the 2021 Tour de France. Picture: PhotoNews

With COVID travel bans forcing Sweeny’s family to cheer him on from the other side of the world, his mum said the late-night viewing on Australian time and often dangerous race conditions made it both an exciting and nerve-racking watch.

“I’ve had lots of family and friends over watching him, (because) my husband’s just got a job over in Perth so not watching (Harry) together has been really difficult,” she said.

“It’s absolutely remarkable – sometimes we look at each other and think ‘seriously, is that our boy?’.”

Harry Sweeny with mum Kristy, sister Georgia, and dad Glenn at his graduation. Picture: Kristy Sweeny

Despite a path to success plagued by injury and setbacks, Mrs Sweeny said watching her son’s passion for and success in his sport was worth every sacrifice.

“I initially struggled with him when he said he wanted to be a professional athlete. I’ve always tried to keep his feet on the ground and say there’s lots of other competition and he may not win, but lo and behold most of the time he would,” she said.

“It’d be fantastic to think he can do lots more Tour de France races and it’s great to see him learning from absolute legends of the field, but I’d love him to be able to maintain some balance between family and relationships as well.

“Really you just want your kids to be happy, and he’s living his dream.”

Harry Sweeny is currently individually ranked 98 of 165 in the Tour de France and the Lotto Soudal team is sitting at 23.