460 Australian triathletes to race the ITU World Triathlon Championships in London

A total of 460 of Australia’s fittest athletes will stampede through the streets of London this week when the 2012 Olympic city plays host to this year’s ITU World Triathlon Championships.

Just over 12 months after Erin Densham produced her awe-inspiring Olympic bronze medal in and around the royal triathlon course of Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park the famous pavements will again grace the world’s finest athletes.

It will be a week long celebration of Multi-Sport that will see world champions crowned in a myriad of age groups and events and for the Elites after a rigorous eight-stop ITU World Championship Series that began in Auckland in April.

It will culminate in the two Elite finals – the Women on Saturday and the Men’s race on Sunday and for the seven Australian Elites – three women Emma Moffatt, Emma Jackson and Ashleigh Gentle and four men – Aaron Royle, Ryan Bailie, Cameron Good and Dan Wilson there is added incentive.

An automatic place on the 2014 Australian Commonwealth Games Team for Glasgow is the carrot dangled by the Triathlon Australia selectors for the first Australian in the Top Eight in the Men’s and Women’s Elite Races.

“They are up for it, that’s for sure, it is going to produce some great racing,” says Triathlon Australia’s Performance Director Bernard Savage.“From what I have seen of these guys in their training camps in Spain and in France and during the ITU World Series there is no reason why we can’t have one automatic qualifier in each race. “It is certainly going to add that little bit of extra spice for both races.”

The Australian Elite women’s team has lost Densham and ten-year team veteran Felicity Abram in the lead up to London but will still be well represented by “two Olympic Emmas” – Moffatt and Jackson who will carry the Emma tradition into these world championships.

Of the 24 ITU World Championships contested in the Elite women’s category – 13 have been won by Australians – and seven of those to three Emmas – Emma Carney in 1994 and 1997; Emma Snowsill in 2003, 2005 and 2006 and Emma Moffatt in 2009 and 2011.

And the most celebrated of all the Emmas – 2008 Olympic champion Snowsill, will again be centre stage when she comes into the Australian camp in Kensington tomorrow (Wednesday, London time) to present the race uniforms to the 2013 Australian team.

But the tradition of these world championships has probably been best summed up by the only non-Emma in the Australian Elite women’s team – Gold Coaster Ashleigh Gentle, who says it is a privilege to be selected to represent Australia at an Elite World Championships.

“It is something which I am very proud and honoured to do. We have a rich history and I want to be a part of the new generation to continue the legacy which has been set before us,” said Gentle.

The former ITU World Junior champion has emerged as an athlete most likely to challenge the Rankings leaders after a consistent season sees her in seventh place, just ahead of the in-form Moffatt with Jackson, after a slow start, hitting her straps to be sitting in 19th.

Competition gets under way tomorrow (Wednesday, London time) with the Aquathlon events from Elite to Age Groupers and Paratriathletes with competitors to cover a one kilometre swim and a five kilometre run in and around The Serpentine Lake.

Thursday will see the Under 23s and Juniors hit the beat with Queenslander Ryan Fisher determined to repeat the 2012 Under 23 World Championship victory of team mate and Elite team member for 2013, Aaron Royle.

“My expectation is pretty simple, I want to win,” said Fisher. “Last year I was close but so far at the same time.

“Finishing 5th (to Aaron) in the World Championships has given me the confidence and belief that with another year of preparation I could come back and win the race.

“Racing on the Olympic course will be a real privilege and I’m excited.”

Brisbane’s outstanding prospect, Sophie Malowiecki at 16 is the baby of the Australian team, receiving a last minute call up into the ITU Junior field giving Australia a team of four girls, while talented Tasmanian Jacob Birtwhistle will add another Australian tracksuit to his growing collection after representing Athletics Australia in the IAAF World Cross Country Championships earlier in the year in Poland.

Friday will see the 13-strong Australian Paratriathletes in action, with Australia’s three-time ITU World Champion Bill Chaffey on show as he chases world crown number four as well as the Age Group Sprint Triathlon events.

The Age Group Olympic Distance competitors will share the weekend with their Elite brothers and sisters.

And while in the Elite men all eyes will be on the likes of our highest ranked male Aaron Royle, as he lines up against hometown heroes – the brothers Brownlee – Olympic champion Alistair and defending ITU World Champion Jonathan – the closest you can get to triathlon royalty – spare a thought for Australia’s oldest Age group competitor.

It is 78-year-old Gold Coaster Jolyon Ward – who at last count will be racing in his 26th Olympic distance triathlon – let along all the other marathons and endurance events he has conquered.

When trying to contact “Jo” last week, the ex-Brit’s “secretary” said he would call back “when he gets home from work.”

Jo was on site in the family Signage business – working in between training sessions and visits to the phsyio to tend to his torn shoulder muscles.

But it won’t keep him out of his second World Championship – his first being 2009 on the Gold Coast.

“I just love challenges,” said Jo, who will be returning to “The Old Dart” after leaving his beloved Somerset to live down under…. “I guess I’m the oldest competitor at 78 am I?”

Jo you guessed right….and you can rest assured he won’t be taking a backwards step when he rubs shoulders with triathlon royalty.

It will be a week to remember for the 460 Australians who will proudly wear their green and gold Scody race suits in a stampede to remember.

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

The Australian Elite team of 23 athletes in the Elite, Under 23s, juniors and Paratriathlon, will showcase these Championships alongside a brimming Age Group Team of 437.

The break down of numbers in the 2013 Australian Triathlon contingent to London is impressive:

• 22 Elite, Under 23 and Juniors
• 13 Paratriathletes
• 22 athletes are competing in the Age Group Sprint and Age Group Olympic Distance

World Championships

• 14 who will tackle Age Group Sprint, Olympic Distance and Aquathlon Events
• 237 athletes competing in the Olympic Distance Age Group
• 200 athletes competing in the Sprint Distance Age Group
• 142 competing in Aquathlon Age events including one paratriathlete, for a;
• Grand total number of 460 Elite and Age Group athletes

Australian Elite Triathlon Team 2013 ITU London World Triathlon Championships, London, September 11-15

Women:

Ashleigh Gentle (QLD)

Emma Moffatt (QLD)

Emma Jackson (QLD)

Men:

Aaron Royle (NSW)

Ryan Bailie (NSW)

Cameron Good (NSW)

Dan Wilson (QLD)

Australian Under 23 Triathlon Team – 2013 ITU London World Triathlon Championships

Under 23 Women:

Natalie van Coevorden (NSW)

Charlotte McShane (NSW)

Tamsyn Moana-Veale (NSW)

Grace Musgrove (National Talent Academy, NSW)

Under 23 Men:

Declan Wilson (National Talent Academy, ACT)

Ryan Fisher (QAS, QLD)

Matt Brown (QAS, QLD)

Australian Junior Triathlon Team – 2013 ITU London World Triathlon Championships

Junior Women:

Jodie Duff (National Talent Academy, QLD)

Holly Grice (QLD)

Jaz Hedgeland (National Talent Academy, WA)

Sophie Malowiecki (National Talent Academy QLD)

Junior Men:

Jacob Birtwhistle (National Talent Academy, TAS)

Joel Tobin-White (VIS, VIC)

Luke Willian (QAS, QLD)

Matt Baker (National Talent Academy, NSW)

Full team list